NEWARK, NJ - The New Jersey Devils signed center Nico Hischier to a seven-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7,250,000 (total value $50,750,000). Hischier would have been a restricted free agent at the end of the 2019-20 season. The contract will start in 2020-21 and the breakdown is as follows: 2020-21: $7,000,000, 2021-22: $7,250,000, 2022-23: $4,500,000, 2023-24: $7,750,000, 2024-25: $7,750,000, 2025-26: $8,000,000 & 2026-27: $8,500,000. The announcement was made by Devils' Executive Vice President/General Manager Ray Shero.

"Nico is a special person who possess a team-first mentality combined with an inner drive to succeed," said Shero. The entire organization is thankful to him and his family for believing in our future. We are excited that he will continue to play a prominent role with us for many years to come."

"I like the direction the organization is going in and the confidence they give me is all a player can ask for," said Hischier. "We have a young, exciting team, and I am driven to try my best to help the team succeed every day. I was really welcomed here from day one, and I have always felt that I wanted to be part of the Devils."

Hischier, 20, is in his third season with the Devils' organization, playing in 157 games and recording 37 goals, 64 assists for 101 points with 50 penalty minutes. He scored his 100th career NHL point, October 5 at Buffalo (assist). The Brig, Switzerland native completed his second full NHL season during 2018-19 with New Jersey. He skated in 69 regular-season games, scoring 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points with 24 penalty minutes. He recorded a team-high 30 assists during the 2018-19 NHL season, and scored a career-high, three game-winning goals. He was the tenth youngest skater in the NHL (min. 25 games) last season.

During his rookie season, Hischier was the youngest NHL regular, skated in all 82 games and reached the 20-goal mark. He notched his first career NHL goal Oct. 19, 2017 at Ottawa and led all Euro-born rookies with 52 points. On February 19, 2018, he was named the NHL's First Star of the Week, after tallying four goals and three assists for seven points and was a plus-six in the Devils four games. The 6-1, 175lb., forward made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut on April 12, 2018, playing in all five ECQF games against Tampa Bay where he tallied one goal.

Internationally, Hischier has represented Switzerland in multiple international competitions, including two World Junior Championships in 2016 and 2017. In 11 games played on the World Junior Championship stage, he posted four goals and five assists for nine points. He most recently competed in the 2019 IIHF World Championships held in Slovakia, ranking first on the team in points scored with nine. He finished the tournament tallying four goals and five assists and a +3 rating.

Hischier was selected first overall by New Jersey at the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago, the first time the Devils had the number one slot in team history. He is the only Swiss-born player to be selected with the top pick in NHL history. In 2016-17 with Halifax (QMJHL), Hischier led all rookies with 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points in 57 regular-season games and added three goals and four assists in six QMJHL playoff contests. He was named CHL and QMJHL Rookie of the Year, QMJHL Offensive Rookie of the Year, a member of the QMJHL All-Rookie Team, and was awarded with the Mike Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL's Best Professional Prospect. During Day 2 of the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago, Hischier was named the 2017 recipient of the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, which is given to the candidate who best exemplifies the commitment to excellence through strength and character, competitiveness and athleticism.