New Jersey Devils: Will Get A Huge Boost If Nico Hischier Plays

The New Jersey Devils have won two in a row and could have another boost coming back if Nico Hischier plays in the next game following a minor injury.

Nico Hischier returned to New Jersey Devils practice on Monday morning. That is something that leaves all fans a sigh of relief because he is such a huge member of this organization and they need his stellar play in all three zones really bad. He can defend and turn that into a rush as good as any player on this team and it was apparent in his absence that they missed him.

They won both games he missed entirely but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some sloppy moments that Nico helps out in. They also lost the game he was initially injured in, and you don’t know how that impacted them blowing a 4-1 lead again. If one of your best two-way forward is missing, that might hurt your chances of protecting a big lead.

Hischier has two assists on the season so far and no goals. It’s not for a lack of chances. He is one of the team’s leaders in shot contributions in pretty much every game. He (and his entire line in large part to the play of Sean Couturier) had an off game against the Philadelphia Flyers, but other than that, they have been the bright spot in a rough start.

Hischier only missed starting in two games and has yet to play a game since signing his seven-year contract extension. It was a big moment in Hischier’s career and something that all Devils fans should be so happy about. The contract has a high average annual value for the point totals he has put up so far but he is going to be paid for his contributions in all three zones and what his point totals can become. If he ever gets into the 70-80 point range than he will be in the Selke Trophy conversations and this contract will look like a bargain.

Hischier and the Devis will take on the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night in their first game after a five-day layoff. The Coyotes are off to a decent start and are a team that the Devils need to prepare for. They have a good forward group now led by Phil Kessel who knows the Devils well as he played every year of his career in the Eastern Conference up until now. They also defend well and have two good goalies. This should be a fun matchup, especially if Hischier is, in fact, able to get back into the lineup. There will be more notes on where he would slot back in as the week progresses.