New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier Still Far From Being A Top Center
By Nick Villano
The NHL put out a list of the top 20 centers in the league, and the New Jersey Devils were not represented. It shows how far Nico Hischier is away from making this list.
The New Jersey Devils have one of the best young centers in the league. Nico Hischier has the ability to be great for years to come. In his first season as an NHL player, Hischier immediately became a top-line center alongside the eventual league MVP. It’s hard to be anything but excited about the future of the Devils’ top center.
However, a recent article on NHL.com shows how far away Hischier is to being a top center in the NHL.
At first look, I halfway expected Hischier to crack the bottom of the list. Sure, he only had 52 points, but there was so much upside, and he did a majority of his damage while playing 5 on 5.
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Then, looking at the list, it’s hard to make that argument. Leon Draisaitl was the 20th center ranked by NHL’s writers. Looking at his production, the Oilers’ second best center had close to a point per game, and added more even strength points than Hischier had overall points. Hischier may have a higher ceiling than Draisaitl, but right now Hischier is a short step below.
Ryan Getzlaf made the list at 19. He may be older, but he’s still producing at a high level. In 56 games, he still scoring 61 points, more than Hischier in a full season.
Here’s the point: Hischier is an amazing young player, but he still has a ways to go before he’s considered one of the best centers in the game. More specifically, he needs to at least break 70 points next season. If Taylor Hall can continue to play at a top-of-the-league level, then Hischier should be able to make a jump. He could see himself on this list next year, but he needs to make a considerable jump to get himself noticed.