They probably won't be trading there captain

Oh, I don't expect *them* to, this is more for the guys putting him at 3C.

I haven’t seen anyone do that

3rd line or not, Hischier is playing above 19 minutes a game on average, and is on pace for his offensive best season yet. Excellent possession player, scoring at a 0.7 ppg clip this year, and recently named captain. Can't imagine the Devils stay on the line without you offering something that you don't want to...

I haven't seen anyone do that. But maybe they did that to balance out the lines
Hughes and Hischier would be the 1-2 punch for years to come in NJ

All these put Mercer at 2C...

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2986913

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2988596

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2989797

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2990995

I don’t think NJ sends Hischier away, as he is one of their, young leaders. For a young team like NJ, Hischier to them is like B. Tkachuk to the Sens, or Larkin to the Wings. They might not be the best offensive players, but their leadership qualities are invaluable to such young teams. Hischier might end up as a 3C, but the Devils won’t trade him, mainly because he is their leader as a young core.

Probably take more to trade for him.

I appreciate your feedback!

Mercer would move to the wing in the future before the Devils consider trading Hischier in my opinion

It’s not really a 1, 2, 3 pecking order. But at even strength, they will get similar ice time. Add in PP and PK, and Hischier often leads team in TOI among forwards.

I will often list Hischier as 3C only because I am accustomed to putting more offensive lines in first two slots and more defensive line in 3rd one. And since Nico often draws defensive assignments, he just sometimes ends up as 3C.

But Jack and Nico are undoubtedly our top-2 guys. Mercer, Sharangovich are our 3C’s (and/or RW), McLeod is 4C and Boqvist is our 5C, I guess.

Huh? You think Detroit doesn't mind giving up a likely top 10 pick? That's basically Hischiers worth atp. Getting Zadina, Veleno, Tuomisto as well makes this pretty bad for Detroit

I agree. As a stout DRW fan, I don't love this trade for either side, which means it's probably fair. But of course I'm biased as the OP.

if that pick ended up being Savoie or Kemell I would take that for Hischier, then again I'm not all that high on Nico personally.

Mercer could absolutely usurp Hischier as the 2C and make him expendable, don't be naive. up until a few weeks ago Mercer had been having a way better season as a 20 year old rookie.

Depending on how other players develop they might have to. It's a very realistic scenario that he ends up as the 3C and $7.25M is a ridiculous cap hit for your 3rd best center.

Or we could run 4 centers in our top-6

Holtz - Hughes - Sharangovich
Bratt - Hischier - Mercer

We don’t have to move anyone for at least two years

thing is Mercer hasn't been all that good on the wing when they've played him there, I think he's a natural C. I wasn't talking about trading Nico immediately, but it could happen a few years down the line.

Mercer has cooled down since then. Mercer can definitely be the 2C but I rather have 3 good Cs in the lineup, especially with Hughes and Hischier's injury concerns

But isn’t that a good problem to have? I mean, if your centers are so good that someone with that big cap hit plays at 3C. Hischier is very talented, and he reminds me a lot of Jordan Staal. Staal is very talented as well, and while he is not the same player he once was, the Canes center depth has forced him down to 3C. Staal is also better defensively, so there is that argument. Hischier also kind of reminds me of RNH. He is very talented, but with McDavid and Draisaitl ahead of him in terms of centers, he had to be moved to the wing. My personal opinion is that if Hischier is forced to play as the 3C with the devils, they should be considered lucky to have that kind of depth.

good problem to have talent-wise but not on the $ side of it. I would MUCH rather be using that 7 million on an elite winger to play alongside our top 2 centers.

I don’t think the Devils will have to worry about cap space for about 2-3 years, maybe more.