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Devils Player Preview: Nico Hischier

Date: September 11, 2022

By: Justin Lotito

Nico Hischier on the ice.

Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers

After another disappointing year, the Devils hope to have a bounce back season in their 2022-2023 campaign. If New Jersey wants to avoid missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a fifth consecutive year, they need their players to elevate their game, and one player who can take his performance to an elite level this season is center Nico Hischier.

Hischier, the 2017 first overall pick, has shown flashes of greatness as a Devil. During his rookie year, he played all 82 games and scored 52 points, which was the fourth most points scored by a rookie in Devils history.

Fans were excited to see him develop into a young star, but after his fantastic rookie season his play regressed. He began to have trouble staying healthy, only playing 127 out of 164 possible games the next two seasons.

During a pandemic shortened 2020-2021 season, he only played 21 out of 56 available games. During Hischier’s injury struggles, his stats started to decline.

Fans started to become concerned with his lack of improvement and critics began calling him a bust. They claimed his promising rookie year was only a product of Taylor Hall’s MVP season. However, perspectives on him changed during the 2021-2022 campaign.

This past season, Hischier proved his doubters wrong, having a career year. In 70 games played, he accounted for a total of 60 points, his best season since his rookie year.

Hischier began having the type of impact on the ice that you’d expect from a former first overall pick.

While looking back on his year, Hischier said, “Personally I’m happy about my year. I was able to do what I tried for my team.”

Even though he was happy with his performance, he would go on to mention that he was upset that the Devils missed out on the playoffs.

In order to make the playoffs this year, Hischier notes the team must “be more consistent”.

Hischier is vital to a Devils playoff push. After an eventful offseason, they have built a roster that can make it to the postseason. If the Devils want to have a successful year, they need players like Hischier to step up.

If Hischier continues to build off his 2021-2022 success, he will develop into an elite talent. Fans are eager to see what Hischier has in store for this upcoming year.

Justin Lotito can be reached at justin.lotito@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, NHL, New Jersey Devils

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