Greatest New Jersey Devils player of all time: 42. Nico Hischier
Remember, this is if the player retired today. Nico HIschier is on a trajectory to get into the top ten of players who ever played in the Garden State. However, for now, Hischier finds himself here at number 42. His most recent season, putting up 80 points and being named a Selke Trophy finalist, was by far his best season. He made the playoffs for the second time, winning his first series.
Hischier was the number-one overall pick in the highly-skilled 2017 NHL Draft. It came down to Hischier and Nolan Patrick, and the Devils definitely made the right choice. Hischier immediately made an impact. Travis Zajac got hurt in Hischier’s first training camp. Many thought Pavel Zacha would slide in next to Taylor Hall, but Hischier earned the spot on the top line. Hall has gone on record saying that Hischier was the reason he won his MVP.
Hischier had a few decent seasons, but injuries and the pandemic really ruined any momentum. That was until 2022. Going into last season, the Devils were hoping the rebuild was finally over. The Devils exploded, breaking franchise records in standings points, wins, and more. Hischier was a huge part of that, playing as good a two-way game as anyone not named Patrice Bergeron.
Like we said, Hischier will rise on this list. He’s the team’s current captain, and he’s going to be very good for a very long time. If 2022-23 wasn’t a fluke, top ten is almost a certainty.