New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier’s Offense Has Arrived
The New Jersey Devils are 7-3-0. That is not bad after starting the 2022-23 season at 0-2-0. They were clearly just off to a slow start because they have now won seven of their last eight games. It has been a remarkable run for this team as they desperately need to start winning.
Nobody is sure that it will keep up as it has gone off the rails in recent years but they do feel a little bit differently this year. In order to be an elite NHL team, you need to find ways to win all sorts of different types of games.
There have been a couple of “they would have lost this game in 2021-22” moments this year which is a good feeling because they have also dominated a lot. Good teams win even when things are hard.
One big reason that the team has been so good is the play of Nico Hischier. He missed the first game of the season with an injury and didn’t look himself in the second game of the year. However, from the third game on, he looks like a complete superstar.
Nico Hischier has been absolutely incredible for the New Jersey Devils so far.
In nine games played so far, he has five goals and five assists for ten points. That is not bad at all for a two-way centerman looking to add more to his offensive game. Although he had 52 points in his rookie season, we always knew he needed to unlock more offense.
Right now, he looks like someone that can put up big numbers. He might have 15-20 fewer points than Jack Hughes or Jesper Bratt in any given season but he is also capable of being right there with those guys. A 100-point season is not out of the question for him in his career.
His most recent goal came in Tuesday’s win over the Vancouver Canucks. He scored a beautiful power-play goal to get the Devils up 1-0 and they didn’t look back. Naturally, the goal was assisted by Hughes and Bratt.
These three are going to lead the way for a long time and Hischier has to be a big part of it. Now that his offense has arrived, he can start being given the respect that he deserves. Being named the captain at such a young age speaks volumes about him as a person as well.
The Devils ended up winning this Vancouver game by a final score of 5-2. They had five total goal scorers in this one after having seven unique goal scorers in Sunday’s win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. They play a solid team game offensively and Hischier is one of the great leaders.
New Jersey’s road trip through western Canada will now migrate East. They will take on the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night which is sure to be a barn burner. There is a lot of skill involved in that game.
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With guys like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the other side, Hischeir’s crew will have their hands full. Everyone will need to be on their game for this one.