As of today, Nico Hischier can now officially play in the NHL in 2017-18. The New Jersey Devils announced this afternoon that Hischier has signed an entry level contract. Per the Devils, it is the maximum entry level contract, a three-year deal with a $925,000 cap hit loaded with performance bonuses.
That Hischier was offered the maximum ELC should be no surprise. He was the first overall selection of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. You would have to go back quite a bit to identify a first overall pick that did not receive the highest possible entry-level contract.