It’s a big day for Devils center Nico Hischier. First, he was cleared to come off the CPRA list (making him the final New Jersey player to be removed) but he was also named team captain in advance of today’s game against Buffalo. He becomes the 12th captain in franchise history.
It has been a trying season for 22-year-old in that he hasn’t been able to play yet. Hischier suffered a leg injury back in December while training and before he could be cleared to return, he was one of many New Jersey players to wind up on the CPRA list. Even though he had recovered from the leg injury during that stint, he had to clear COVID protocol before he could be activated. That’s hardly what he was hoping to give New Jersey in the first season of a seven-year, $50.5MM contract signed back in October of 2019.
He is a welcome addition to a New Jersey lineup that sits in the middle of the pack in offense this season at 2.82 goals per game heading into play today. Hischier isn’t a high-end goal scorer – he only reached 20 goals in his rookie season – but is their best pure playmaker which should give them a boost offensively as the Devils look to hang around the playoff race in the very tight East Division. As a result of their extended break in the schedule, he’ll wind up only missing 11 games despite being out for nearly six weeks.
Hischier becomes the youngest active captain in the league, taking that mark from Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (24). He’s also the third ever captain from Switzerland, joining Roman Josi who is Nashville’s captain as well as Mark Streit who held the title for the Islanders in 2011-12 and 2012-13. There are now just two teams in the league without a captain, the Rangers and Senators.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Well Deserved
Congrats Nico!
He sucks ass
Do Devils fans miss Lou?
I would.
Considering his drafting after Zajac not at this point. He is the reason for 3 cups, however he’s the reason the devils are still rebuilding. Held on for too long.