The New Jersey Devils have started the preseason 2-0 and have looked good while doing it. There is a lot to be excited about as they head into a new year. It is unclear if they will take a step into the playoffs but it is obvious that they won’t be a complete disgrace all season long as long as they are healthy.
Speaking of being healthy, the Devils are dealing with one tough injury right now. Nico Hischier came out of the game on Monday with what was described as cramps. They made it pretty clear that he was coming out of the game for precautionary reasons.
That made it seem like it was no big deal and that he was going to be just fine. Unfortunately, they seem to have given out false hope as they announced on Thursday that he is going to be reevaluated after 10 days following a strained hamstring.
For one, it is clear that the New Jersey Devils were dishonest with the initial Hischier update. That is annoying as people want to know what is going on with their players, especially one as important as Nico Hischier. Honesty can go a long way with trust.
“Nico has a hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated in 10 days.”
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 29, 2022
Lindy Ruff provides an update on Nico Hischier and more ahead of facing the Rangers tonight. #NJDevils | @Genucel pic.twitter.com/UZZ3CWzjFN
The New Jersey Devils need to get Nico Hischier as healthy as possible soon.
Going forward, the most important thing is getting Hischier healthy. He had such a strong finish to the 2021-22 season that people believe he can be a game changer now as he was drafted to be. With Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt in the mix, this core can make some noise if healthy.
Hischier is the captain of this team which also speaks to the man that he is and his importance as a leader in the clubhouse. Missing a player like that for any long stretch of time will certainly hurt the team so we have to hope that he is back not long after those 10 days.
When Hischier returns, the things that he brings on the ice will be monumental. He is very good in his own end of the ice which makes him one of the best two-way players on the team. He also exploded offensively in the second half of last season which is a great sign.
If he can continue scoring goals and making others around him better, anywhere from 75-100 points is not out of the question for the young captain. He may or may not be back for the first game of the season but it shouldn’t take long. Hopefully, he gets healthy quickly because they need him.