2025-26 New Jersey Devils Report Cards: Nico Hischier – Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils’ 2025-26 season has been a whirlwind of uncertainty, with no shortage of injuries, instability, and drop points. Despite making a good push at the end of the season, they were unable to secure a postseason berth. Finishing the season 42-37-3, the Devils are looking to have an offseason, as they try to take another step toward becoming a Stanley Cup contender.

Throughout the season, every player on the roster has contributed in some way, some making a bigger impact than others. Let’s take a look at how their captain, Nico Hischier, has fared in the 2025-26 season.

Hischier’s performance for 2025-26

For the second time in his NHL career, Hischier played a full 82-game campaign, finishing the season with 66 points – 28 goals and 38 assists. Not only did he lead the club in goals, but he also led the way with 11 individual goals. He recorded six game-winning goals, three of which were in overtime, while averaging 2.6 shots on goal and 20:43 of ice time per game.

Like the rest of the team, Hischier started the season strong, with 10 points in October and 13 points in November. He scored his first goal in the second game of the season, with two points in the Devils’ 5-3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. At the end of 2025-26, he would go on to have 18 multi-point games, including a seven-point streak in late March.

Even though the Devils struggled in the second half of the season, Hischier made an impact, finding a way to get on the score sheet night after night. For example, he made critical overtime plays in January, with game-winning goals against the Seattle Kraken and Nashville Predators.

Then in February, he made his Olympic debut in Switzerland, playing a key role in the team’s first success. In all, Hischier finished the tournament with four points in five games, including a three-pointer against Italy that helped send Switzerland to the quarterfinals.

Hischier finished the season strong in New Jersey, with 24 points in the last 25 games for the Devils. He finished 2025-26 as one of the best contributors on the team, making a difference with his two-point play, faceoff skills, and strong defensive efforts.

Hischier’s impact on the Devils

Next to teammate Jesper Bratt, Hischier is the longest-tenured player on the roster. This marked his ninth season in the NHL and sixth as captain of the Devils. Since being drafted in 2017, he has been a cornerstone and production talent – and this season has been no different.

Hischier is still an elite 200-footer, and his point production has been the Devils’ saving grace more often than not. Over the past five seasons, he scored 60 points, topping 80 points in 2022-23, then a career-best 35 goals in 2024-25. He also played in three playoff games throughout his career, scoring 12 points in 22 games.

As an all-around player, the team relies on Hischier to deliver in the faceoff circle, in front of the net, and on the Devils’ special teams. And as always, he does not disappoint. In fact, he led the NHL in both faceoffs taken (1,808) and faceoffs won (1,008) this season. He also had 211 shots on goal, 103 of which were dangerous, which placed him in the 99th percentile among the league’s goaltenders.

He logs significant minutes against opposing teams’ top lines, providing solid defense while maintaining high scoring production. Hischier’s work ethic and leadership are admirable – especially when times get tough.

The future of Hischier and the Devil

Hischier is entering the final season of his seven-year, $7.25 million deal. He is eligible to sign an extension beginning July 1, and is expected to re-sign another long-term contract. Now that Sunny Mehta has been named the next general manager (GM), extending the captaincy should be a priority in the offseason.

Given his value to the team and his reliability, Hischier’s new contract should have a very high average annual value (AAV), which could be anywhere from $10-12 million. As a key member of the Devils’ roster, he needs to be locked inside New Jersey for as long as possible.

Overall Grade

After an exceptional performance at the top and beyond in 2025-26, Hischier’s overall grade is an A+. He continues to be a catalyst for the Devils on both ends of the ice and has kept the team grounded while dealing with a slew of injuries. Likewise, he wears many of the team’s hats, while serving as its top line center. But even after all the challenges this season brought, his belief in the team never wavered, and he shared his thoughts during the end-of-season interview last week. “Obviously we’re proving ourselves and showing what kind of team we can be, and I think that’s why we have to hang on and try to be that in the 82-game season,” Hischier said.

Hischier is still the premier forward for the Devils and is expected to play a major role in 2026-27. If it is fighting for a qualifying place next season, there is no doubt that its captain will lead the way.