NHL Draft 2017: Devils select Nico Hischier with top pick
By David Rouben
The New Jersey Devils’ selection of Nico Hischier at first overall was a no-brainer. He was the top-rated prospect by various NHL Draft scouts.
The 2017 NHL Draft isn’t as intriguing as the past two installments. Whereas those drafts had can’t-miss prospects in Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid, this class doesn’t have a standout player. However, Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier are above the rest of the pack because they’re both first-line centers who had exceptional seasons in their draft-eligible years.
While Patrick was the consensus top pick at the start of the season, his stock fell when he missed half the season due to injury. Hischier was healthy and put up an astounding total of 86 points and 38 goals in 57 games. He rose up TSN’s draft board from 16 at midseason to first overall.
All of that culminated in the New Jersey Devils eventually pulling the trigger on Hischier at first overall:
With the 1st overall pick in the 2017 #NHLDraft, the New Jersey Devils select C Nico Hischier. https://t.co/v71aTsIidg #TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/ctost166Ay
— SportsCentre (@SportsCentre) June 23, 2017
Devils fans should be happy with Hischier. They were missing a first-line center all season long, as their prized acquisition of Taylor Hall had to deal with Pavel Zacha feeding him the puck. Not only is he a dynamic scorer, but he’s capable of playing a 200-foot game. At first overall, Hischier is also the highest-drafted Swiss player in NHL history.
While scouts loved his year in Halifax, his most impressive showing had to be in the World Junior tournament. He was a one-man show, scoring four goals and seven points in five games, and nearly led Switzerland to an upset over the United States in the quarterfinal stage. Considering the United States went on to win gold, that was pretty remarkable.
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The Devils were far from the worst team last season. They had an 8.5 percent chance of landing the first overall pick. But given all the lotteries the Edmonton Oilers won while Taylor Hall was there, he was clearly the missing piece. Devils fans will hope the addition of Hischier can boost an offense that finished 28th in the league last year.