On Wednesday, the first day eligible, the New Jersey Devils have a reported contract extension for captain Nico Hischier. 

Hischier, who was the number one overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, has been a great player for the Devils since he was brought in. Although he's not a prolific offensive player, he is someone who does everything right in all three zones. 

He is also an above-average player in the attacking zone; he just tends to sacrifice that part of his game at times to be a more well-rounded superstar. 

Over 609 NHL games played, Hischier has 199 goals and 289 assists for 488 points. That's not bad production for a player who is as good defensively as Hischier. He has finished as high as 2nd place in Selke Trophy voting in the top-10 a total of three times. 

With one year left on his deal at $7.25 million, Hischier will tack on another five at $11.7 million. That's a great price for what he brings to the table. He could have gotten more next summer from another team, but he stays loyal to the New Jersey Devils. 

Points aren't everything in the NHL. Even though Hischier does have a lot of those, too, he earned his money by playing the game in a way that makes his team better both offensively and defensively. 

It is impossible to win in the Stanley Cup playoffs without a two-way center like Hischier. If you think of all the recent champions, they have a player who fits that profile at the top of their lineup. Some of them, like Hischier, sacrifice a bit of offensive production to play winning hockey. 

With Jack Hughes, who is all about playing in the offensive zone and collecting points, they make a wonderful two-headed monster down the middle of the ice. It is on Sunny Mehta and his staff to now make sure a winning roster surrounds them so that the team can take advantage of what its two stars bring to the table. 

UPDATE - Devils Make It Official

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