A few weeks ago, the Devils won the NHL draft lottery, giving them the first overall pick for the second time in the past three years. As such, the discussion around the Devils following that lottery win has revolved heavily around the presumptive first overall pick, Jack Hughes. But while Jack Hughes seems poised to become the new hotness in Newark starting this June, people shouldn’t sleep on the Devils previous first overall pick, who turned in a strong sophomore campaign in an otherwise mostly brutal season in New Jersey. Yes, Nico Hischier, now at 20 years old, is still here and still very good, and while there seem to be a few pockets of the fanbase aren’t sold on Hischier as an elite center in this league, a quick dive into the numbers shows a player who made solid strides from an already impressive rookie campaign the year prior into a player who looks very much like the real deal.
Don’t Sleep on Nico Hischier, Who was a Powerhouse for the Devils This Season
