ESPN recently published an article titled "NHL Rank: Predictions for the Top 100 Players for 2026-27." This list included three players from the New Jersey Devils, with Nico Hischier standing out at 54th place. This marks a significant drop from his previous ranking of 23rd last season. Such a decline seems harsh for a player of Hischier's caliber, especially considering he had a solid 2025-26 season.
Prediction lists can be misleading, particularly when players who had worse performances are ranked higher than those who performed better. This discrepancy calls for a closer examination of the rankings. For instance, Aleksander Barkov, an outstanding player who missed the entire 2025-26 season, is ranked 40th, 14 spots above Nico Hischier's ranking for the upcoming season. It is a significant assumption to believe that Barkov will return to his previous form, and ranking him above Hischier at this point is questionable.
Nico Hischier finished the 2025-26 season with 66 points, including 28 goals, showing he remains a major goal-scoring threat. He also led the league in faceoffs won, with 1,008 victories and a 55.8% success rate. In addition to his offensive skills, Hischier excels defensively, blocking 62 shots and recording 27 takeaways, making him a consistent two-way player.
Nico Hischier was not rated properly by ESPN in their latest rankings
The ceiling is undeniably high for a young superstar-caliber player like Connor Bedard, which has led to much excitement surrounding his potential impact in the NHL. Bedard is ranked 43rd on the list, eleven spots higher than Hischier. However, a pressing question for hockey fans and analysts alike is whether he is currently a better player than Nico Hischier.
Currently, the situation surrounding Bedard is complicated. He is expected to be sidelined until November due to a shoulder injury. This situation implies that while Bedard's potential remains sky-high, we may not see him on the ice for a significant portion of the season. Interestingly, predictions from ESPN suggest that despite his injury and the likelihood of missing 20-plus games, Bedard may still have a better season compared to Hischier.
As we look forward to a lengthy 84-game season, it's interesting to see how ESPN's prediction rankings will play out by the end. Nico Hischier's ranking indicates that he still has much to prove to the hockey world, and he has the potential to showcase his skills throughout the season, just as he has in the past.
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