New Jersey Devils legend calls Nico Hischier 'a defenseman's dream'

New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier is finally getting the national attention he deserves for carrying his team at both ends of the ice for so long, and he's doing it with the help of a familiar face that Devils fans all know and love.

On Monday, Hischier, 26, was ranked 40th by NHL Network on their list of the current top 50 players in the NHL. The Swiss former No. 1 overall pick wasn't even ranked on NHL Network's list last year, so it's a well-earned bump in stature, even if most Devils fans already know how good Hischier is and appreciate his efforts.

Discussing Hischier on the panel alongside Tony Luftman and former Devils forward Brian Boyle, Devils legend Ken Daneyko said it's been a "privilege" to watch the center grow over the years, among other things, in the heaps of praise.

"It's been a real privilege covering him for a lot of years now. I've just watched his growth, his progression as a National Hockey League player, and he [pretty much] does everything right," Daneyko said. "He's a defenseman's dream, I like to say, because. . . I watched him, and I remember, as an 18-year-old, and I'm going 'Oh boy, there's a big hole in the middle. Guy's wide open, defenseman's out of position.' And who's there? A young 18-year-old Nico Hischier.

"He just processes the game, understands the game so well, that's why I say a defenseman's dream. Because he's there to help you out in every situation in all three zones, and he continues to get better. His career-high in goals last year with 35, well-rounded. Every team has its go-to guy, the guy you need to play in every situation. . . Nico Hischier's your man. He's been a real privilege to cover; he's a special player and probably a better guy. He's a really good guy that his teammates respect."

On his current trajectory, Hischier is well on his way to becoming a Devils franchise legend, and his case would only become more concrete with some playoff success and, perhaps, a Stanley Cup one day.

Daneyko is right in his assessment, too, when considering the No. 1 centers of past Stanley Cup teams and longtime contenders. Names like Jack Eichel, Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, Anze Kopitar, and Sasha Barkov all come to mind, and they all play or have played the hard minutes Hischier has been tasked with since a young age.

It's on the Devils to find a way to better support Hischier, but the national circles are starting to take notice of the captain's efforts with his best hockey still on the horizon in New Jersey.