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Ranking the Rankings: Did ESPN Get New Jersey Devils Top 100 Rankings Right?

By Nick Villano

Apr 24, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New Jersey Devils goaltender Akira Schmid (40) celebrates with center Jack Hughes (86) and center Nico Hischier (13) after defeating the New York Rangers in game four of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New Jersey Devils goaltender Akira Schmid (40) celebrates with center Jack Hughes (86) and center Nico Hischier (13) after defeating the New York Rangers in game four of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Jersey Devils
Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Nico Hischier
ESPN Ranking: 31
Too High, Too Low, Just Right?: Just Right

Nico Hischier is a very hard player to rank in the grand scheme of the NHL. He’s very good. He’s a former number-one overall pick. Last season, he was a Selke nominee. With Patrice Bergeron out of the league, the door is open for Hischier to win the award that he came in second for last season. It makes sense to have such a good two-way player ranked this high.

This section of the ranking is very interesting. Some of the names right ahead of Hischier include Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Sorokin, and Miro Heiskanen. That feels right. Behind Hischier are some bigger names who are holding onto their prime, like Steven Stamkos, Artemi Panarin, and Alex Ovechkin. For this year only, would you rather have Hischier or the three players just mentioned? It’s definitely a debate at this point in their careers.

Hischier is having a rough start to the season, but expect him to make a comeback now that he avoided an injury. He’s too talented to keep playing like he has. Lindy Ruff shuffled the lines, and Timo Meier found his groove. Hischier will be right behind him.

It looks like Ruff will go with the Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Ondrej Palat combination again. We’ll see if Bratt’s big start can rub off on the captain. Despite Hischier’s start, 31 still feels right. We have all the faith that he will turn it around.

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