James Nichols
Is Nico Hischier about to cost the New Jersey Devils over $11 million per season for the next eight years?
The latest AFP Analytics offseason contract projections indicate that very well could be the case.
The Devils head into a busy offseason with a lot to answer under new general manager, Sunny Mehta.
And although they head into the summer with $11,875,000 in cap space, it looks like that money can be eaten up pretty quickly, with no real room to make improvements without subtrating elsewhere.
The NHL officially announced the 2026-27 salary cap will be $104 million 12 days ago.
Here’s a quick look at the Devils’ projections:
Updated Cap Outlook
Per PuckPedia projections for 2026-27:
- Salary cap: $104,000,000
- Projected cap hit: $92,125,000
- Cap space: $11,875,000
- Cap floor: $76.9 million
Although the Devils are comfortablly above the floor despite $1.25 million being paid out in bonus overages, a few key extensions could leave Mehta with little to work with.
Here’s where the following key contracts are projected to land:
Pending Free Agents (2026 UFAs/RFAs)
- Arseny Gritsyuk:
- Long-term: Four years at $5.890 million AAV
- Short-term: Two years at $3.046 million AAV
- Simon Nemec:
- Long-term: Seven years at $8.061 million AAV
- Short-term: Two years at $4.473 million AAV
- Paul Cotter: Three years at $2.325 million AAV
- Nico Daws: One-year at $892,500
Extension-Eligible (July 1, 2026 – FAs July 1, 2027)
These players can be extended starting July 1st, but have one year left on their contracts and won’t hit free agency until 2027:
- Nico Hischier: Eight years at $11.459 million AAV.
- Dawson Mercer:
- Long-term: Six years at $7.839 million AAV
- Shorter: Two years at $5.762 million AAV
- Cody Glass: Three years at $4.302 million AAV
- Brenden Dillon: One-year at $3.814 million
- Stefan Noesen: One-year at $1.122 million
- Seamus Casey: One-year at $940,500
Looking Ahead to 2027-28
Let’s say the salary cap projections in 2027-28 remain $113,500,000. At that point, the Devils are projected to have $47,125,000 in cap space (based on current commitments). Thus, if the Devils were to sign all of the extensions above—apply the long-term deals to those with long-term projections—New Jersey would have just $1,370,500 in cap space on July 1st, 2027.
What It Means for the Devils
With $11.875 million in projected cap space for 2026-27, the Devils have enough room to pursue most or all of the key free agents and extension eligible players without drastic roster surgery. That is, of course, not accounting for players who are likely going to walk such as Dennis Cholowski and Evgenii Dadonov.
The bigger commitments—Hischier ($11.459M), Nemec (up to $8.061M), Gritsyuk (up to $5.89M), and Mercer (up to $7.839M)—would consume a sizable share of that space.
This situation perfectly illustrates the rapid inflation in the NHL salary cap. The cap is projected to climb from $104 million in 2026-27 to $113.5 million in 2027-28, creating a massive jump in available dollars. By 2027-28, the Devils are currently projected to have roughly $47.125 million in cap space—more than four times the room available in the upcoming summer.
That said, retaining every pending free agent and extension-eligible player isn’t realistic. The Devils will have to make choices—prioritizing core pieces while allowing some depth players to walk or be moved. Even with strong cap inflation, money can disappear quickly once extensions are signed. Expect Mehta to be selective this summer and possibly look for ways to shed salary from existing contracts to create even more breathing room.
Overall, the projections are encouraging for New Jersey. However, if the Devils are going to look for help externally, Mehta will have to find ways to shed some dead weight.
