The Minnesota Wild have made it clear they want a No. 1 center this offseason. But while the Wild are interested, the biggest question is who that player will be and if they become available. The bulk of the NHL’s movement won’t happen until next month’s draft, but New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier could wind up becoming the Wild’s first target as he attempts to work out a contract extension.
While The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun mentioned that Hischier is most likely to sign an extension with the Devils, he also noted it’s a situation worth monitoring after he met new general manager Sunny Mehta during the IIHF World Championships in Switzerland.
“My understanding is that so far, those preliminary discussions have been amicable and positive,” LeBrun wrote on Monday. “But if an extension isn’t signed this summer, it would be hard to fathom Mehta wanting to begin next season with Hischier on an expiring contract. Mehta’s priority is to build a winning contender and do so as quickly as possible. So he needs clarity on that very important asset.”
If the two sides can’t reach an agreement, the Wild should be calling the Devils and it could help Minnesota land the top center they are looking to find this summer.
Nico Hischier could become Wild’s first big trade target this summer
Hischier isn’t as flashy as the possibility of the Wild reuniting Jack or Luke Hughes with their brother, Quinn. But it would be enough to help Minnesota one of its biggest objectives this season. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Hischier has lived up to the hype in New Jersey, posting 60 or more points in each of the five seasons including a career-high, 80-point campaign during the 2022-23 season.
Hischier also has a strong defensive element to the game. He finished as the runner-up for the Selke Trophy during the 2022-23 season and also finished fourth in the voting last year. It’s a two-way player that the Devils likely want to keep, but it also could get interesting if his contract situation goes out of control.
LeBrun added that teams like the Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadiens could be interested in trading for Hischier if things get that far, but other teams will also have interest. For the Wild, it could be a matter of which assets become available in this type of deal and whether Guerin has the capital to pull it off.
Danila Yurov could be an intriguing piece that could grow into a top-six scoring option. Jesper Wallstedt or Filip Gustavsson could also be involved but may be complicated with Gustavsson owning a no-trade clause and being slated to undergo hip surgery this offseason. Perhaps it could also involve other core pieces after general manager Bill Guerin claimed no player was “untouchable” this offseason, but that might be the price of doing business in advance of a weak free agent market.
Regardless of what they could give up, the Wild should keep an eye on Hischier’s situation. If he becomes available, he could be a strong solution to their center problem and a player that could take Minnesota to another level.
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