The New Jersey Devils have always had two amazing centers that they can build their team around. Having a situation where Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes are the future of this franchise allowed the Devils to be creative in other areas of the team. They were able to really focus on the defense, taking Shakir Mukhamadullin, Simon Nemec, Luke Hughes, Seamus Casey, and Anton Silayev high in their respective drafts. They also knew they could focus their free agent and trade efforts on wingers instead of centers, grabbing Timo Meier, Ondrej Palat, Paul Cotter, and Stefan Noesen in recent years.
This article is not to disparage the sheer value that one or the other brings to the ice and to this team. The Devils are so much better off with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier both on this roster. However, we have to ask after Nico Hischier’s hot start, is he this team’s superstar?
Major media outlets will treat Jack Hughes like he’s the team’s star. He’s on the cover of NHL 25, the premier video game covering the NHL. The NHL puts Hughes in commercials, in documentaries, in pre-and-post-game shows, and pretty much anything they can get him to agree to. Hughes is everywhere, and he deserves to be. He’s an absolute superstar.
Who is the New Jersey Devils best player, Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier?
Meanwhile, Hischier has been lighting it up this season. He just scored his 10th goal of the season, extending his league lead. It’s the first time a Devils player has been atop the league goal leaders this late in the season. He’s on pace for 63 goals, which would blow the Devils record out of the water. Brian Gionta still holds the record with 48 goals in the 2005-06 season.
We don’t want to fall victim to recency bias. Hughes is just 23 years old, and he already holds the single-season points record for the Devils franchise. He’s come closer to 100 points than anyone in the history of Jersey’s Team.
Still, it’s stark how great Hischier has been this season. Him and Hughes have always been 1A and 1B at center. Many teams claim to have two top centers who are great, but few teams actually accomplish this feat. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the top option in the league and what every team strives for. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh are the historic option of two of the very best of all-time pairing together for their entire careers. If Hischier can actually keep this pace and score 60 goals, it would be hard to argue the Devils aren’t also in that conversation, but that’s a gigantic if.
To the latter part of the question, this doesn’t really matter. There doesn’t seem to be an ego in the room, and we don’t think Hughes will really care if Hischier “surpasses” him in anyone’s eyes. He seems to be focused on building a great team and putting up points when the team needs him to. When the team needs a goal, Hughes will either find the shot or find a way to get someone open.
Hischier is having an amazing season, and Hughes will catch up soon. The offense is absolutely buzzing after a 6-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Hopefully, the wins continue just like Hischier’s scoring streak.