The New Jersey Devils selected Nico Hischier the 2017 top overall pick during Friday night’s NHL Draft.
The 18-year-old center from Switzerland is a highly skilled two-way player with explosive speed and great offensive ability. Hischier scored 38 goals and had 86 points in 56 games for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL last season. He becomes the highest-drafted Swiss player in league history.
Coming into the draft, experts seemed to be divided on whether Hischier or Nolan Patrick would go No. 1, but both players said they didn’t really care where they ended up.
Ultimately, Hischier got top honors, and Patrick went No.