C Nico Hischier - Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL (2017, 1st, NJD) II

[haak84]

Maybe I've been kicked in the balls too many times as a Devils fan in the last 5 years, but I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop with this guy. It's just not...

i just dont see that happening. hes too skilled and works too hard. also, seems to eat/sleep/think hockey. the fact that hes doing all this while being underdeveloped physically is amazing. its not like matthews or laine who are not going to get much bigger/stronger relative to hischier. his improved strength will help create more space and his skills/intelligence will help him dominate.

 

[GoldiFox]

Have seen him twice over the past four days against the Canes. Once he fills out he is going to be a stud. He has everything you want in a top-end 1C. His ability to generate speed and get the puck off his stick once he gets going is already at an elite level from my viewings (granted my viewings include two breakaway goals in 2 games where he demonstrates exactly this). He was getting under Slavin's skin in a way that even Crosby/Ovechkin don't illicit.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

New Jersey Devils Center Nico Hischier will be named the NHL's First Star of the Week, for the week ending Feb. 18, 2018.
Hischier tallied four goals and three assists for seven points and was a plus-six in New Jersey's four games this week. The 19-year-old scored one goal in each game as the Devils went 4-0-0. His four-game goal streak as a rookie is tied for the second-most games in franchise history. It is the first time a Devil has been awarded the First Star of the Week since Dec. 28, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010 (Jamie Langenbrunner).

 

[42]

Devils fans must be thrilled. Will be a great #1C for them for many years. Their own Bergeron.

I would not get too hyped about the production though, will likely top as a PPG player, but there is much more to his game than points.

Not that there's anything wrong with topping out as a PPG player but what exactly in his game do you see that tells you he'll top out at PPG? He is still developing.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Awesome for Nico to get recognized like that, hell of a week for sure. And when the team needed it most, he stepped up in a Hall-esque way.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Not that there's anything wrong with topping out as a PPG player but what exactly in his game do you see that tells you he'll top out at PPG? He is still developing.

Just being realistic. There are similar players to him (bergeron, kopitar), that struggle to be a PPG. There are superior skilled players that barely are more than a PPG, and they are more one dimensional than Nico.

Great 2-way players just do not get to score that much.

 

[Speyer]

Lets also not forget how good PPG actually is in todays NHL. Last year only about 10 players averaged a point per game. And even tough scoring is up this season for a number uf reasons, PPG is still great for a forward, who is considered a two-way player.

As how high Nico's ceiling really is, we're just gonna have to wait and see I guess. One thing is for sure tough: He has exceeded expectations people have put in him a couple of times now.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Lets also not forget how good PPG actually is in todays NHL. Last year only about 10 players averaged a point per game. And even tough scoring is up this season for a number uf reasons, PPG is still great for a forward, who is considered a two-way player.

As how high Nico's ceiling really is, we're just gonna have to wait and see I guess. One thing is for sure tough: He has exceeded expectations people have put in him a couple of times now.

Absolutely. A PPG player is a top player in the league, and even more valuable if it is an elite 2-way player.

 

[Cheddabombs]

I think Nico settles in around a 70-80 point player, maybe he'll reach a PPG+ a few times but I'm not expecting it personally. Then again, like others have said he's blown past expectations a number of times and I can certainly see the skill and talent is there to be a PPG guy. It's the points on top of his defensive prowess and competitiveness that makes him such an amazing talent. The guy wants to win, he's a winner and it's reflective in his playstyle and by many first hand accounts by the coaching staff, players, media, etc. They all say how focused he is on winning.

I love that in a player, especially one as skilled as him.

 

[haak84]

That was last year. Scoring is way up this year and currently 23 players are averaging more than a PPG. Nico will definitely be apart of that group and possibly even towards the leaderboard. Nico is a two way center but that defensive ability isn't always a boon on his offense. If anything, he'll have the ability to tilt the ice more in his favor and have the skills to dominate offensively.

There are 7 centers who have more than a PPG this season and I think Nico will be in the top 5 centers offensively after he develops.

I think with the right team he would be around a 95 point player, top 3 team all star selection and selke winner. Much like Datsyuk. But I'm not so sure he can't exceed that.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I think Nico settles in around a 70-80 point player, maybe he'll reach a PPG+ a few times but I'm not expecting it personally. Then again, like others have said he's blown past expectations a number of times and I can certainly see the skill and talent is there to be a PPG guy. It's the points on top of his defensive prowess and competitiveness that makes him such an amazing talent. The guy wants to win, he's a winner and it's reflective in his playstyle and by many first hand accounts by the coaching staff, players, media, etc. They all say how focused he is on winning.

I love that in a player, especially one as skilled as him.

That would be a huge win considering the Devils have not gotten that kind of production out of the center position in quite a long time.

 

[VoidCreature]

59 games into his rookie year Nico already has more even strength points (33) than Taylor Hall (31), Steven Stamkos (29) and John Tavares (29) did in theirs.

EVpoints/game for 1st overall rookies since 07-08

1. McDavid .75
2. Matthews .58
3. Mackinnon .56
4. Hischier .55
5. Kane .53
6. Hall .47
7. Nuge .46
8. Yak .43
9. Stamkos .36
10. Tavares .35
11. Ekblad .32
12. Johnson .21

I don't understand how he only has 6 PP points.

 

[42]

I don't understand how he only has 6 PP points.

Until very recently, he was only used on the crappy 2nd PP unit.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

59 games into his rookie year Nico already has more even strength points (33) than Taylor Hall (31), Steven Stamkos (29) and John Tavares (29) did in theirs.

EVpoints/game for 1st overall rookies since 07-08

1. McDavid .75
2. Matthews .58
3. Mackinnon .56
4. Hischier .55
5. Kane .53
6. Hall .47
7. Nuge .46
8. Yak .43
9. Stamkos .36
10. Tavares .35
11. Ekblad .32
12. Johnson .21

I don't understand how he only has 6 PP points.

Until very recently, he was only used on the crappy 2nd PP unit.

He was on the second unit PP for a good portion of the season, and the entire PP has been shit for about a month and a half now.

 

[135ace]

He may not win rookie or the year but he's the rookie with the potential going forward. Every rookie who's ahead of him in the Calder has two years of development on him. He'll surpass Boesser and Barzal no doubt, in my opinion. His two way game is way too elite and will only get better. He's got Bergeron with more skill written all over him. They value he's gonna bring to the Devils with his skill and intangibles is inmeasuable. Future selke winner of with 75-80 point seasons in the future are the type of players teams want to build around.

Barzal has been having an insane season and is a very special player. Maybe Nico surpasses him, but at this point it's tough to say for sure. I do think both will be top 10 centers in the league quite soon.

As for Boeser, Nico has already surpassed that glorified PP specialist. And that's not even considering the fact that Nico plays the more important position.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Just being realistic. There are similar players to him (bergeron, kopitar), that struggle to be a PPG. There are superior skilled players that barely are more than a PPG, and they are more one dimensional than Nico.

Great 2-way players just do not get to score that much.

He may end up being more offensive with guys like Zacha taking over defensively.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Guys, I love Hischier and think he is going to be a top 15 center, but odds are he does not become a ppg player. I think ~70 pts with great two-way play is much more realistic

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

If he plays with Hall for the next few years and his development goes as planned, 70+ points is possible for sure. I think it's safe to assume he'll be a 60+ point guy with fantastic two way play in the mold of Bergeron.

 

[Deen]

He will probably have a career year around 82 points at some point in the future. I agree though, he is likely a 65-75 point consistent stalwart on both ends.

 

[Nocashstyle]

If he plays with Hall for the next few years and his development goes as planned, 70+ points is possible for sure. I think it's safe to assume he'll be a 60+ point guy with fantastic two way play in the mold of Bergeron.

Sign me up for that

 

[Kurt Cobain]

Barzal has been having an insane season and is a very special player. Maybe Nico surpasses him, but at this point it's tough to say for sure. I do think both will be top 10 centers in the league quite soon.

As for Boeser, Nico has already surpassed that glorified PP specialist. And that's not even considering the fact that Nico plays the more important position.

Like I said Barzal will always have the point scoring ability but at the very least Nico with his two way game will equal or surpass him when they're fully developed.

 

[BruinLVGA]

He is on pace for 18g / 36a = 54 pts... As an 18 (now 19) yo player & youngest in the league... In his first full pro season, in the NHL to boot... Playing 1C... In only his second year on small ice... As an underweight teenager... I had not seen him play for 10-15 games after seeing his first 30-35: he looks already a much better, more at ease player RIGHT NOW (and he was already so good to begin with) than in those first 30-35 games...

Making forecasts is impossible now, it's too early. But my feeling is that 60-70 pts responsible, high IQ two-way center will be his bottom. He has the talent, skills, IQ, work ethic, desire to be the best, he will fill out and he has the height too @ 6"1.5, heck even his shot - what was considered his weak point - looks already improved. I would be surprised if he doesn't have at least several seasons at ppg. I really do believe it.

 

[VoidCreature]

Hit 40 points today, extends his point streak to 6 games.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

I honestly didn't see where he touched the puck last night to get the assist

 

[vtdevils2k]

I honestly didn't see where he touched the puck last night to get the assist

I'll take it though, after all those assists were taken away from him earlier in the season. Think it was so quick I guess when the puck deflected to Hall, perhaps Nico got a stick on it.

Keep it going Nico!