C Nico Hischier - Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL (2017, 1st, NJD) II

[JA]

Nico Hischier:
Birthdate: January 4, 1999
Height: 6'1.5''
Weight: 178 lbs

http://lastwordonsports.com/2016/11/26/2017-nhl-draft-november-rankings-top-five/

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Hischier is a playmaker, with outstanding vision and passing ability. He has very good hockey sense, and anticipates his teammates movements in the offensive zone. Hischier has a very quick first step, excellent acceleration and agility, as well as great edgework. This, along with quick hands, allow him to avoid defenders and make him very elusive when working the puck in the offensive zone. His ability to make plays with the puck, while moving at top speed is something that is pretty rare to see in a 17-year-old. Hischier also has a very high work ethic, he never seems to stop working during a shift.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHZNxVgsWic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-5ZfS5cFMY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMCwenX0GSQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PSpo1aGj5E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db-Lp2c5q1U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqGusfYBgI0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaLF6nXmHFU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ln2RY1xNeM
http://theqmjhl.ca/video/jan-2717-mooseheads-5-voltigeurs-4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz3GwmLtbKI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5nXg7Sc8qw



http://thechronicleherald.ca/sports/1416562-mooseheads%E2%80%99-hischier-magical-%E2%80%98worth-the-price-of-admission%E2%80%99

Mooseheads’ Hischier magical, ‘worth the price of admission’
JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS REPORTER
Published November 17, 2016 - 7:46pm
Last Updated November 18, 2016 - 2:56pm

NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr was so emphatic in his evaluation of Halifax Mooseheads wunderkind Nico Hischier that the veteran scout turned to the lingo of the young junior hockey players he was grading.

“It’s not often I use the word impressive, but this weekend he was awesome,†Marr said with a chuckle Saturday after watching Hischier’s hat-trick performance cap his nine-point weekend.

“There’s very few players that you go around and say, ‘This guy is worth the price of admission.’ And he’s one.â€Â

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“But he hit the ground running and he hasn’t stopped. There’s points in every game, two or three times, where it’s ridiculous. Like the goal (Saturday against Charlottetown), where he flipped to the middle, cut in and found a way to put it in. It’s the game-winner and it also has everybody on the bench thinking, like, ‘What in the world is he doing?’

“It’s something you see in a bantam or a midget game, and you don’t get to see that in a (tighter-checking) major junior game. Yet he’s pulling it out of his hat. Every game, there’s more than a handful of scouts watching him.â€Â

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Part of Hischier’s appeal is the moxie he mixes with his undeniable talent. An errant stick to the face didn’t slow his stride Saturday. It only spurred his resolve.

“You just saw that he is a natural competitor,†Marr agreed. “He doesn’t take no for an answer. He doesn’t like to finish second. He doesn’t like for anybody to get the better of him. You like that type of drive and determination in a player. He does it with so much composure and smarts.â€Â

Marr watched Hischier skate with Switzerland in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial under-18 tournament last August in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. And before his Halifax visit, Marr saw the dynamic Moosehead during an October game in Quebec against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

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“Nico is a player that we’ve been tracking for a couple of years. He’s been high on the radar. He was at the Ivan Hlinka tournament and we started him off with an A ranking right off the bat (this season). And he just continues to climb. He’s right up near the top of the rankings. He’s shown that he’s in that category of a special talent.â€Â

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“But you watch this weekend  he’s driven, he’s relentless. So when you combine that competitiveness with his skill-set and his smarts, that’s a very appealing package for an NHL team.â€Â

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http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2016/11/27/un-autre-europeen-de-talent-a-halifax

Translated from French:

Another talented European in Halifax
Swiss Nico Hischier took no time to impress recruiters
Kevin Dub�
Sunday, 27 November 2016 18:11 UPDATED Sunday, 27 November 2016 18:11

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Each player is different, some Euros need a longer adjustment period before acclimatizing to the North American way. For Hischier, it was not a problem.

"After three days, it was over," says his coach in Halifax, Andr� Tourigny.

In fact, he has led a number of talented players during his coaching career, but he is already saying that Hischier is coming to a separate class in terms of work ethic.

"I've rarely seen such a dominant offensive player worrying so much about the defensive aspect of the game. He sometimes joins defenders to perform puck retrieval exercises on the pretext that he sometimes arrives first in the bottom of our zone. Never-seen during my coaching career. It improves day by day. His understanding of the game is exceptional for a player his age. He is a complete player like Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic, "complimented Tourigny.

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http://swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/swisshockeyblogs-ch/57-rule-the-roost/7880-will-nico-hischier-replace-the-matterhorn-as-the-valais-poster-child

Rule the Roost
Will Nico Hischier replace the Matterhorn as the Valais' poster child?
Source: Thomas Roost
Published: 03 December 2016 - 3:04 pm

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Approximately five years ago, I attended a regional U14-tournament in Romanshorn. This is a provincial place in the eastern part of Switzerland. Nico Hischier played there and was about twelve years old at that time, competing with players one or two years older and two heads taller than him. In this tournament, something happened which had never happened before or happened again afterward. After just 15 minutes of watching this young stud play, I sent a text to my then scouting client SC Bern and told them to try and get this guy, Nico Hischier, immediately. I wrote the text in CAPITALS and with many exclamation marks!!!! This little story is astonishing because I usually need about five games before I really dare to present a confident statement about a player. Not so with Nico Hischier: At the tender age of twelve, he already controlled the game like a professional, dished out passes and smart plays. Something I had never seen before in a player that young. His way of playing just blew me away.

In the next years, I followed Nico’s career pretty closely and the more I dug into this, the more I was impressed.

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Talking with the coaches who have worked with him, I always hear that Nico is so smart and immediately understands even the most complex exercise and does it correctly. He is a fast learner. Former NHL players playing for SC Bern (Kobasew, Ebbett, Conacher) were immediately impressed when they practiced with Nico.

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He is already an almost complete package. Nico Hischier impresses me in different respects. He is the opposite of a one-dimensional player. He takes pride in the defensive aspect of the game. He is already really good in the face-off circle and seems to love learning this part of the game as well. His best asset is probably his understanding of the game, his off the chart vision – he finds passing lanes that other players simply don't find. His decisions are usually smart and clever; his positioning is already the one of an experienced pro. Nico is very competitive, plays with heart and underrated grit; he is a smart puck-mover, a quick shot release is already there, and his body-play is also pretty impressive. Although slightly built, he is not afraid to go to the dirty areas at all; he definitely plays “bigger†than his size.

Hischier is a player who always wants the puck, he is very proactive, the opposite of a pure reaction-player. If he has the puck, almost always something happens. His skating is most impressive. He skates in different gears and he also seems to have this extra gear that just a few players have. But what really separates him in the skating area is – once again – his smarts.

Nico Hischier uses his skating skills in a smart way; he is not like a one-dimensional speedster that always and in every situation wants to impress you with his north-south-speed. Nico is a selective skater and, choosing his ways wisely (he doesn’t only go north-south but also east-west). But he is also a sneaky, patient, unpredictable skater: he changes gears when nobody thinks he would and he does it without the puck as well to close gaps. I guess that pro-players agree with me that it is most difficult to play against players with unpredictable skating and Nico is exactly such a player.

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http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2016/12/07/hischier-monte-comtois-baisse

The ratings of Hischier up
The latest ISS list confirms the Mooseheads' popularity for the next draft
Kevin Dub�
Wednesday, 7 December 2016 17:14 UPDATE Wednesday, 7 December 2016 17:23

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Hischier continues to increase its value and attracts more and more the eyes of the scouts. During the Mooseheads in Quebec City last week, no less than 41 recruiters had traveled to the Center Vid�otron to see it at work. Before the meeting, his coach Andr� Tourigny even told the press that he was the "best player I coached".

Not bad for a coach who managed high-level talents in Nikita Kucherov with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, but also Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly with the Colorado Avalanche.

"Hischier showed incredible offensive skills in November," said ISS Recruitment Director Dennis MacInnis. His precise shooting allowed him to experience evenings of five and four goals respectively. His opponents should also be wary of his exceptional talent as a game maker behind the net. "

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http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/phenomenal-wjc-performance-puts-nico-hischier-in-discussion-for-no-1-overall-in-2017

Phenomenal WJC performance puts Nico Hischier in discussion for No 1 overall in 2017
By: Ken Campbell
Jan 2, 2017

There are two perceptions of the World Junior Championship and they are, for the most part, accurate. The first is that it’s a 19-year-old tournament. The second is that for draft-eligible players who do play, a bad tournament won’t necessarily hurt them, but a good tournament could do wonders.

Keep that in mind if somehow between now and the June 23 draft in Chicago, Nico Hischier (pronounced HEE-shur) manages to ascend to the status of No. 1 overall pick. If that happens, the seeds for that ascension will have been sown at the World Junior Championship. Hischier’s Swiss team lost a heartbreaking 3-2 game to USA in the quarterfinal, but not for lack of Hischier trying to will his team into the semifinal. He scored two brilliant power play goals and if not for absolute larceny on the part of USA goalie Tyler Parsons late in the game, Hischier would have sent the game to overtime.

USA coach Bob Motzko made no secret of the fact that his team is extremely lucky to be moving on to the semifinal. He also made no secret of his admiration for Hischier.

“(Hischier) was the best player we’ve seen in this tournament,†Motzko said. “We tried all four lines against him and I thought he was playing every shift because every time he got out there, the ice was tilted. It was the first thing we said when we got into the lockerroom, ‘That’s the best player we’ve seen in the tournament.’ â€Â

Hischier finished the tournament with four goals and seven points in five games and gave scouts something to think about for the rest of the season. If Hischier can carry this performance over to the rest of his season with the Halifax Mooseheads, it would not be a stretch to suggest that Nolan Patrick’s status as the No. 1 draft prospect would be in jeopardy. Players with that kind of poise and patience around the net, combined with the speed of his feet, hands and mind, are not the kind you find everyday.

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Hischier currently sits sixth in Quebec League scoring with 23 goals and 48 points in just 31 games and he’d certainly be vying for top spot if not for the fact that he has been at the World Junior Championship. In fact, his 1.54 goals per game is second in the league only to league scoring leader and Mooseheads teammate Maxime Fortier. And Hischier certainly has a flare for the dramatic. In addition to his two goals in the semifinal, Hischier scored in overtime earlier in the tournament to lift his team to a victory over the Czech Republic and had a six-point game in the Quebec League. His talents have earned him the nickname, ‘The Swiss Connor McDavid,’ something he’s not about to encourage.

“I don’t try to listen to this,†Hischier said. “I mainly try to focus on the hockey and have fun and keep working hard.â€Â

Hischier grew up idolizing Pavel Datsyuk and you can certainly see the similarities when he handles the puck. There were several times during the game when Hischier would get a chance, then jump on the rebound and create another. That was exactly what happened on his second goal, which tied the game six minutes into the third period. Hischier pulled the puck out of a mass of bodies in the crease, brought it back and shot. Then seeing that wouldn’t work, he picked up his rebound, circled the net and scored on a wraparound. Both his goals were spectacular, but it was the one he missed late in the game that will probably keep him up for a couple of nights. But don’t be surprised if Hischier ends up being named one of the tournament’s top three forwards.

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http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1220946-hischier-outshines-patrick-at-prospects-game-takes-top-player-honors

Hischier outshines Patrick at prospects game, takes top player honors
by Justin Cuthbert 1h ago

Nolan Patrick got his hands on the trophy in the end, but it was No. 2 ranked North American skater Nico Hischier who had scouts, pundits, and fans alike buzzing after the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Quebec City.

Hischier scored a gorgeous breakaway goal off a Patrick turnover with a silky backhand move and also added two assists to take top player honors in a losing effort for Team Orr.

He outshone the presumptive No. 1 NHL draft choice with a dynamic offensive showcase, though Patrick, the captain for Team Cherry, did have a productive outing, collecting two assists and impressing physically.

Hischier, a Halifax Mooseheads center, has picked up momentum throughout his draft season. He scored four goals and seven points in five games at the World Junior Championship, and U.S. coach Bob Motzko labeled Hischier the best player his gold medal-winning side faced in the tournament after he nearly willed Switzerland past the Americans in the quarterfinal.

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http://halifaxmooseheads.ca/article/mooseheads-name-captain-and-assistants

Mooseheads name Captain and Assistants
February 2, 2017

The Halifax Mooseheads have named Keigan Goetz as the Captain of the team for the remainder of the season. The 20-year-old joined the Mooseheads on September 28th, 2016 after spending time in the OHL with both the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Barrie Colts. Goetz has five goals and nine assists in 45 games played this season in a Halifax uniform.

Nico Hischier was also named a full-time Assistant while Otto Somppi and Max Fortier will wear an “A†on their jersey during home games. On the road Frederic Aube and Jake Coughler will also serve as Assistants.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/hockey-mooseheads-swiss-hischier-qmjhl-nhl-1.3968450

Rookie star with Mooseheads rockets up NHL draft rankings
'After the season I can look forward to the draft, but not right now'
By Paul Palmeter, CBC News Posted: Feb 06, 2017 11:35 AM AT Last Updated: Feb 06, 2017 11:37 AM AT

Nico Hischier is a long way from his home in Switzerland but the 18-year-old hockey phenom has smoothly settled into life in Halifax.

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"What he's accomplished, it's surprised all of us," said Halifax general manager Cam Russell. "He's adapted so quickly and he's become so comfortable and he's been so consistent on a nightly basis."

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When Russell drafted Hischier in last year's Canadian Hockey League import draft he knew he had a good player, but not this good.

"There's no limit to what he can do, he's such a well-rounded player," said Russell, who is in Europe for the next two weeks on a scouting trip.

"He's got great skills but one thing you never hear anybody talk about is his defensive game. He's our best defensive player and he's great on faceoffs. He's a player who once he gets to the NHL, they're going to play him in every situation in the game."

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http://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/18645344/nhl-ranking-top-50-prospects-2017-nhl-draft

Top 50 prospects for the 2017 draft
Corey Pronman
Special to ESPN
February 8, 2017; 2:45 PM ET

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Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick, this year's top two prospects, likely would be in the discussion for the No. 3 to No. 5 range in the past two drafts. Previous ranks refer to my first draft board of the season, which posted in October.

1) Nico Hischier, C, Halifax (QMJHL) (Previous rank: 5) 2016-17 stats: 43 GP | 37 G | 39 A

Everything has been pointing in the right direction for Hischier this season. He was fantastic from the word go between juniors and international play, and he has put himself into a reasonable discussion to go first overall. He's the complete package offensively. He's a very good skater, with the ability to be dangerous due to his first step and top gear but particularly in how elusive he is. Hischier is a creative puck handler who can dictate possession with his skill. As with Patrick, his best trait is his hockey sense. He anticipates pressure well, moves the puck into the right places and outsmarts defenders. He's not a bulky guy, but he gets to the net with frequency and is a solid defensive center.

Why I went with Hischier at No. 1:

I'm going to anticipate the argument. "Corey likes being controversial. He put Patrik Laine ahead of Auston Matthews last summer, and now this!" You think I liked having Leafs fans hurl insults at me all last spring and summer? I'd much rather be watching baseball than having to deal with outrage. I have a duty in my view to my readers to give my best, reasoned decision no matter the public perception.

On the merits of the decision, I had Patrick slotted at No. 1 most of the season, but I became uneasy about it the past few weeks. Frankly, I've been more impressed by Hischier this season on a tools level. There is a pretty significant age calculation I'm trying to make in my mind when balancing these two players. Patrick is four months older than Hischier (and has a full extra season of experience), with mildly superior performance, but that's in a small sample for Patrick, given that he missed most of the season due to injury. Last season in the WHL -- when Patrick arguably performed as well as Hischier this season, when adjusting for league -- he would have been eight months younger than the current version of Hischier. It's a tough balancing act, and I wouldn't fault anyone for picking either of them first overall. Given what's a close statistical call in my mind, the fact Hischier has looked better to my eye evaluation tilts the scale. Ultimately, I see slightly more dynamic elements in his game, to the point where I think he could potentially be an elite player in the NHL.

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Nico picked up two awards and was named to the 2017 Rookie All-Star Team at the 2017 Golden Puck Awards in April 2017.

http://theqmjhl.ca/article/the-golden-puck-awards-an-unforgettable-evening-4

2017 Rookie of the Year

2017 Best Professional Prospect from the QMJHL (Michael Bossy Trophy)

2017 Rookie All-Star Team member




https://www.nhl.com/news/nico-hischier-staying-humble-before-nhl-draft/c-288485676

2017 Draft: Nico Hischier staying humble
Halifax forward, potential No. 1 pick defers credit to teammates for successful first season in North America
by Guillaume Lepage @GLepageLNH / LNH.com Staff Writer
April 6th, 2017

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- His name is on everyone's lips here and his game makes NHL scouts salivate, with several among them thinking he might be the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

But you won't hear any of that coming from Nico Hischier.

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However, personal statistics don't mean much to Hischier. He humbly answers questions about his success and gives credit to his team.

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"Nico is an incredible player," linemate Maxime Fortier said. "He does everything well. He is so strong offensively and defensively, with or without the puck. He's also very smart and you can see that on the ice."

That might be Hischier's greatest asset. He is a strong skater who plays on the power play and the penalty kill, and is just as likely to score a highlight reel goal as he is to steal the puck from an opponent.

"He plays a complete game, he's not one dimensional," Halifax general manager Cam Russell said. "He's got world-class skills, great hands, great vision, but he's also our best defensive player. When you have a player that is your most skilled and basically your best player on the team, and he's also your best defensive player, it provides great leadership for your younger players."

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A large part of Hischier's success this season can be attributed to his attitude. He didn't leave his family and friends behind to be a passenger in Halifax.

"I didn't have any expectations," Hischier said. "I just wanted to come over and have fun and improve as a hockey player."

Named an alternate captain at the start of the season, Hischier had a positive influence on his younger teammates even though he was 17-years-old when he arrived in Halifax.

"Having a player like Nico helps a lot, but having a person like Nico helps us even more," coach Andre Tourigny said. "From the way he prepares to the way he works to the way he practices he couldn't be a better role model for our guys.

"It's happened often where I'll ask our younger players, 'Do you see what Nico is doing?' They have to follow his example."

Russell said he made a calculated risk counting on Hischier to contribute immediately, but that risk has paid off.

"He's one of the best people I've ever met," he said.

And if Hischier has trouble giving himself credit for his on-ice exploits, he is at least able to recognize one thing he did well.

"It was a hard decision for me to come to Canada but I really wanted to and I think it's the best way to become a better hockey player," Hischier said. "I'm 100 percent happy with my decision."

The words of Hischier's coach, Andre Tourigny (note the quotation marks); Tourigny also coached Nikita Kucherov when he played for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL:

https://recrutes.ca/nico-hischier-his-coachs-perspective/

Nico Hischier – His Coach’s Perspective
February 26, 2017 By Grant McCagg

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“He can beat you in so many ways. He can beat you with faceoffs. he can beat you with defensive play..he’s really, really proud of his defence, he can beat you with his work ethic, his intensity, his skill, he can beat you on the rush. He can beat you on the power play, he can beat you on the PK.

He’s a really complete player. I compare him a lot to Henrik Zetterberg when he was in his prime. When you were playing against him he was always efficient in every area of the game.

Nico is really competitive, and he has a great skillset. He can skate, he’s really shifty, he can pass, he has quick hands, good shot. He works so hard defensively. I’ve never seen a player his age so proud of his defence. He’s the whole package.

If you pick top five that means you have to build your team around that player, I would be so happy to build my team around him for the next 20 years …a person like Hischier…a player like Hischier. Nico is such a good man, good heart. He’s very polite, respectful, I’ve spoke to his parents and I can’t say enough about the values. A lot of reasons why he’d be a really really good pick.

When you are that good defensively at that age….I’ve never seen that before. I’ve coached really good players at U-18’s and World juniors, in the NHL The pride he has to play well defensively..I’ve never seen that. He studies so much defensively.

We’re doing a drill with defencemen under pressure on a breakout, a drill where defencemen have to break out under hard pressure..and Nico asked me if he could go as a defenceman. I asked why, and he said sometimes during the game when I’m back with the puck I’m under pressure..I want to make sure I can break out with the puck from my own one.’

I said ‘oh my god.’

He wants to be a pro, he wants to be good defensively. Every time he’s here in my office the first thing he asks me about is his defence. He is special, he’s an awesome player. He sees the games sometimes where nobody can.

I talked to a lot of scouts this weekend and they were saying he will go really early. He weighs 177. He’s lean right now but he will fill out. You look at Kyle Turris…Kyle will never fill out..he’s so skinny..that’s not the case with Nico. ..he will fill out, get bigger.

When we recruited him he answered all the good questions..what’s your workout program..he had all of that planned out.â€Â

Nice words from his Halifax head coach Andr� Tourigny. Let's not forget Tourigny was assistant coach for a few years with the Colorado Avalanche and also had Nikita Kucherov on his team in Rouyn-Noranda.

Leroux: Is it possible that Hischier played his last junior game tonight?

Tourigny: Yes, that's a possibility. Listen, he is an absolutely phenomenal player, not only in terms of his skills, but also in terms of his positioning on the ice, his level of competitiveness, his personality, his humanity. I could talk about it ...

Leroux: He's one of the best you've coached?

Tourigny: He is the most complete player I've ever coached. I've coached very very skilled guys, but complete like him, his leadership, his personality, ... he's great.

Shift-by-shift footage:

Click to read more...

 

[JA]

Five points tonight against the Moncton Wildcats.

Hischier has 37 goals, 76 points in 43 games now this season with the Halifax Mooseheads (1.77 points per game).

Since October 26, 2016: Hischier has 31 goals, 63 points in 30 games with the Mooseheads (2.10 points per game).

A few GIFs to illustrate some elements of his game:

[collapse=hischier_gifs]

[/collapse]

 

[AvsCOL]

The growth this season has been impressive. Getting better every week.

 

[portamoral]

this guy is #1 ainec

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Five points tonight against the Moncton Wildcats.

Hischier has 37 goals, 76 points in 43 games now this season with the Halifax Mooseheads (1.77 points per game).

Since October 26, 2016: Hischier has 31 goals, 63 points in 30 games with the Mooseheads (2.10 points per game).

Amazing player, but to go back to the last thread when you kept insisting he plays like Bure and asked me if he was not exciting.

He is a very exciting player to watch, just nowhere near Bure or even other top prospects the Q has seen recently in terms of "wow" factor, which Bure had. Even the poster who watched him live for the first time agrees with me.

As someone who has been watching live all season I ask out of curiosity how many live viewings you have caught? He doesn't wow crowds like Bure did each shift. They aren't absolutely different but they are far from the same player.

 

[JA]

Amazing player, but to go back to the last thread when you kept insisting he plays like Bure and asked me if he was not exciting.

He is a very exciting player to watch, just nowhere near Bure or even other top prospects the Q has seen recently in terms of "wow" factor, which Bure had. Even the poster who watched him live for the first time agrees with me.

As someone who has been watching live all season I ask out of curiosity how many live viewings you have caught? He doesn't wow crowds like Bure did each shift. They aren't absolutely different but they are far from the same player.

I have seen him perhaps 25 times this season so far on various stages, including in Halifax. There are many subtleties that are similar to Bure's, and the east-west component bears a strong resemblance.

Bure possessed a "wow" factor with his bursts of speed, but there were a lot of subtleties to his game that have been underappreciated.

Hischier is far more cautious about when to jump up. From a young age, he learned that it was important for him to stay back; in fact, a turning point that some have cited is when he was scolded once for cheating in the defensive zone as a young player. He doesn't lead the rush as often and thus doesn't appear to have the same breakneck rush element; that said, we have seen him burst forth from time to time for a breakaway opportunity or rag the puck coast-to-coast.

I talked about this last month:

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=126258475&postcount=624

I have noticed that Nico often restrains his offensive capabilities while in the defensive zone, and always ensures that the puck is in a safe position before he jumps up into the play. He has the explosiveness and high-end top speed to catch up and be at the center of the attack, but his mind below center ice is always focused on the defensive aspect of the play. He doesn't lead the play as often as he could, which naturally reduces the number of explosive, high-percentage chances that someone with his skating ability can generate.

One reason for this is that defense became a high priority for him as a young player. He grew up with the objective of becoming a two-way center. Many young players will say that they are two-way players so that teams won't be so concerned about their commitment to responsible defense -- Hischier actually places defensive commitments on the same level as offensive commitments.

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Their behavior with regards to leading the rush is the most notable difference between him and Pavel Bure; while Bure was also committed to responsible defense and liked to start from low in his own zone more often than not, particularly in Vancouver and in New York, he was quite quick to capitalize on opportunities to push the play up the ice as the leading attacker. Hischier doesn't lead the rush quite as often, nor does he actually jump up as quickly as he could sometimes. Aside from this difference with regards to rush offense, their method of playing is very, very similar.

The biggest difference is that Hischier doesn't put himself in a position to create a semi-breakaway or a breakaway with his speed as often as Bure did. The only thing keeping Hischier from overwhelming the opposing defencemen in this manner is his own restraint.

Bure himself said this when he played for the Rangers; defensively, he adopted the same mindset as Hischier possesses right now. That said, he was also skating on one leg by that point. The number of breakaways that Bure had with the Rangers was significantly lower than with any of his other clubs, partly because of his knee injuries, but also because he played a conservative, strict two-way style. He still scored 31 goals, 50 points in 51 games with the Rangers under those circumstances, but took an approach that might have been even more conservative than the way he played in Vancouver -- not far off from the way that Hischier plays now on his own side of center.

...

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/world-junior-championship-2017-preview-switzerland

World junior championship 2017 preview: Switzerland
By: The Hockey News
Dec 24, 2016

...

“What’s special about him is attention to detail, especially defensively,” said Mooseheads bench boss Andre Tourigny. “He takes so much pride in his defense. It’s unreal.”

That wasn’t always the case. A shift occurred when a coach in Hischier’s native Switzerland scolded him for cheating to create offense. Though he was only 13 at the time, after seeing the video evidence, the lesson stuck with him.

“I always take seriously what the coach is telling me,” Hischier said. “I really took this seriously to become a better player.”

...



“That’s exactly what I want to be – a two-way center,” Hischier said.

Added Tourigny: “Nico’s not just an offensive player. He’s our best shutdown forward. He’s our best for faceoffs.”

...

Defence grounds Bure: Trottier's system keeps Russian Rocket from breakaway launch pad: [Final Edition]
Gallagher, Tony. The Province [Vancouver, B.C] 17 Nov 2002: A83.

...

These are all good observations. But when you ask Bure how many breakaways he's had this season in the 16 games he'd played before last night, he responded instantly right off the top of his head.

"One."

...

While Lindros didn't want to say too much about what's being asked of him and Pavel, Bure says he's all right with it.

"I have no more individual goals," he says. "All I care is the team wins. I've scored five times 50 goals and I don't need any of that stuff any more. Look at the way Detroit did it last year with all those great players all getting 25 or 30 goals. And Dallas this year. And we're seeing all the checking lines too. Maybe if we're getting all the attention, maybe Petr's (Nedved) line is going to do it. It doesn't matter if I do it. And if I get seven goals in the next five games, maybe nobody will be talking about it any more."

"From Al Arbour and Scotty Bowman and Badger Bob Johnson and all the successful coaches I've been with over the years, that's the way they've had success," says Trottier. "It's not a new turn of the coaching wheel or anything. If you pay attention to defence with fortitude and care, things will eventually happen for you offensively."

...

PAV DOES WHAT HE DOES BEST
BYLINE: LARRY BROOKS
The New York Post
December 2, 2002, Monday
SECTION: All Editions; Pg. 062

...

Which explains why after a 4-3 victory in which he scored twice, Pavel Bure not only insisted that there's a choice to be made between scoring 50 and winning games, but that he chooses the latter.

"I didn't come here to score, I came here to be part of a team and to win," the Russian Rocket said after he and Ronald Petrovicky scored 18 seconds apart within the final 2:38 to lift the Blueshirts to a morale-boosting win over the Lightning at the Garden yesterday afternoon. "If you want to score 50 goals now, you have to play a different game, you have to hang out at the red line and take chances, but if you want to stay within the system and play defensively, you have to stay more in the [defensive-zone] slot.


"It depends which direction you want to go: Do you want to score 50 goals and lose some games or score 20 and win some games? My direction is to win the game, not to score. You can't do both. You can't score a lot of goals and play great defensively."

Again, the last thing Bure needs now is to become a focal point of controversy after finally getting to New York after so many years of coveting that home address. Been there, done that. You will never ever hear Bure second-guessing Bryan Trottier; never, ever hear him complain.

This, of course, does not verify Bure's claim that a 50-goal season and Ranger success are mutually-exclusive propositions. Indeed, the chances are slightly overwhelming that if Bure doesn't get close to that number, the Rangers won't make the playoffs. Players have roles. Within a structure, Bure's role is to score goals.

...

"I told Pavel that when we get the puck in the defensive zone, he should go," Nedved said. "I told him I'd look for him."

Getting significantly less ice than he has traditionally been awarded, Bure nevertheless leads the Rangers with 11 goals, just four off the NHL lead.

"It's important for us to put Pav in a position to score big goals because that's what he does best," said Messier, who was strong yesterday. "He doesn't play a conventional game, he isn't predictable . . . and you have to play off of that.

...

By the way: In games where Bure scores, the Rangers are 5-1-2.

What we have is a case of Hischier playing a more careful game. It is crucial for the opposition to pay attention when he has the puck, however, because he has the explosiveness to elude defenders and move up the ice in a hurry; he has the agility to swing around a defender or cut in sharply. He can take the puck from zone to zone with ease. His creativity allows him to improvise and make things happen.

Not every one of Bure's games was particularly flashy; his two-goal 1994 Game 7 performance against Calgary, for example, is about as pedestrian a game as a performance by Bure could possibly be from a north-south perspective. There is no doubt as to his impact on the score sheet, though: two goals, and the game-tying assist.

Here is an example of Bure's game:



Keep in mind Pavel was 150 lbs when he was drafted and 175 lbs when he joined the Canucks. Nico is naturally going to become stronger and heavier as he transitions from being a teenager to an adult.

Another difference is that one might consider Hischier to be more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. Consider that Hischier has 31 goals, 32 assists in his last 30 games, though; he also is one of the QMJHL leaders in shots, especially if one takes into account shots per game. Max Fortier averages 3.71 shots per game and has 110 dangerous shots this season in 52 games. Nico Hischier averages 4.19 shots per game and has 116 dangerous shots this season in 43 games.

Of course, he does relinquish some prime shooting opportunities in order to feed his teammates the puck.

Pavel Bure was praised for his passing ability by his teammates, and is underrated as a playmaker; he could make crisp, difficult passes and could make terrific plays that required high vision. Of course, he never had the teammates to take advantage of that skill, and he fancied putting the puck in the net.

Have a look at the trio of assists he records in this game against the Sabres.

12:56; 26:45; 34:31.



Have a look especially at the play at 26:45. The shift at 38:36, meanwhile, is a glimpse at some of his play along the boards.

There are differences -- no two players are the same. That said, no current player resembles Bure as much as Hischier does. Patrick Kane used to be that player, but not anymore.

 

[izzy]

this guy is #1 ainec

its close

 

[JA]

It is important to note that in Nico's 2-goal, 5-point performance against Moncton today, the Halifax Mooseheads were 0/8 on the powerplay. This season, he only has 11 powerplay goals and 27 powerplay points.

Hischier has scored 22 goals, 43 points in 43 games at 5 on 5 -- that is tied for the QMJHL league lead for 5-on-5 points per game (1.0 points per game at 5-on-5). He is the only first-year-draft eligible or younger player in the Top 40 for 5-on-5 points per game in the QMJHL.

Since October 26, 2016: 20 goals, 37 points in 30 games at 5-on-5 (1.23 points per game at 5-on-5).

For comparison: Nolan Patrick has 6 goals, 13 points in 13 games so far this season at 5-on-5 (1.0 points per game at 5-on-5).

According to Prospect-Stats, Hischier receives an estimated average of 16 minutes 47 seconds of 5-on-5 ice time per game; Patrick receives an estimated average of 16 minutes 11 seconds of 5-on-5 ice time per game.

If one assumes that his ice time before October 26 and after October 26 are consistent with one another, then since October 26, Hischier has scored at a rate of 4.41 points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5. Patrick, on the other hand, has scored at a rate of 3.71 points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.

In the entire CHL, only Dylan Strome (5.33 P/60) and Taylor Raddysh (4.97 P/60) have higher points-per-60 averages than Hischier's 4.41 (since October 26).

A few other notes: Ivan Lodnia is 10th in OHL 5-on-5 points per 60 with a 3.27 average; Owen Tippet is 22nd in the OHL with an 3.05 average; Nick Suzuki is 36th in the OHL with a 2.64 average; Gabriel Vilardi is 49th in the OHL with a 2.55 average.

Over the full season thus far, Hischier's points-per-60 average at 5-on-5 is 3.23, but without the inclusion of those first 13 games, it jumps to 4.41. In those first 13 games, he had just six 5-on-5 points. He has played on the top line since the start of the season, so I don't think the ice time numbers would have changed much.

Here is the forward lineup for the home opener:

 

[kulenova seka]

I dont get that hype around him. He played 16 games with Bern scoring only 1 !!! goal and Matthews (also 1st overall pick) was top player on ZSC.

 

[The Noot]

I dont get that hype around him. He played 16 games with Bern scoring only 1 !!! goal and Matthews (also 1st overall pick) was top player on ZSC.

... you are joking, right?

 

[kulenova seka]

... you are joking, right?

No, I ask

 

[Speyer]

No, I ask

As I and several other posters told you on the Colorado board:

Hischier played limited minutes on the 4th line in Bern last year. His linemates on that line had four and five points respectively that year. He also played as a right wing wich is not his preferred position. Auston Matthews was over a year older, played on the first line and in the first power-play unit. The situations of both players are not comparable. I also doubt that you have even seen him play in the NLA...

 

[kulenova seka]

As I and several other posters told you on the Colorado board:

Hischier played limited minutes on the 4th line in Bern last year. His linemates on that line had four and five points respectively that year. He also played as a right wing wich is not his preferred position. Auston Matthews was over a year older, played on the first line and in the first power-play unit. The situations of both players are not comparable. I also doubt that you have even seen him play in the NLA...

Ok, that explains his low production, but what bugs me is, if he is projected to be 1st overall pick, then you should be able to crack top6 in NLA...

 

[93LEAFS]

I dont get that hype around him. He played 16 games with Bern scoring only 1 !!! goal and Matthews (also 1st overall pick) was top player on ZSC.

I'm a huge Matthews fan, and am leaning towards Patrick to go 1OA, but this is in no way fair to Hischier. He was a 16-year-old coming up from the academy, compared to a ready made kid coming over from the States on a big deal. Also, they aren't really comparable prospects. Hischier is probably ranked 4th at highest on most boards last year and could be below guys like Keller on some. Plus, sometimes good players come on late or take a massive step in their draft year. He's usually done quite well against his peers.

 

[93LEAFS]

Ok, that explains his low production, but what bugs me is, if he is projected to be 1st overall pick, then you should be able to crack top6 in NLA...

You are underestimating the NLA. I'd think the success of Matthews and Malgin this year shows how good a league it is. The league has rapidly improved. Ehlers in his pre-draft year had 2 points in 11 games in the NLA, and that is the best u-17 season ppg wise in the history of the NLA. Baertschi who is a competent NHLer and a top 15 pick, could only put up 12 points in 37 games as a 17 year old in NLB.

 

[kulenova seka]

Ok, thanks for explanation. This makes things much more clear

 

[KovalSNIPE]

You are underestimating the NLA. I'd think the success of Matthews and Malgin this year shows how good a league it is. The league has rapidly improved. Ehlers in his pre-draft year had 2 points in 11 games in the NLA, and that is the best u-17 season ppg wise in the history of the NLA. Baertschi who is a competent NHLer and a top 15 pick, could only put up 12 points in 37 games as a 17 year old in NLB.

To be fair Malgin isn't exactly lighting it up... 8 its in 39 games.

 

[93LEAFS]

To be fair Malgin isn't exactly lighting it up... 8 its in 39 games.

More the point he looks like a competent player after doing below .5ppg in the NLA last year as a 19 year old.

 

[Yasuo]

I dont get that hype around him. He played 16 games with Bern scoring only 1 !!! goal and Matthews (also 1st overall pick) was top player on ZSC.

Ehlers had 2 point in 11 gp in the Swiss league in his draft-1 year. How is he doing in the NHL ?

 

[93LEAFS]

To be fair Malgin isn't exactly lighting it up... 8 its in 39 games.

He wasn't exactly lighting up the NLA.

For a 3rd round pick coming over to NA he's done pretty well.

RNH: .84

Landeskog: .63ppg

Landeskog had more goals, but only 4, so RNH also had the better GPG. Landeskog mainly won on the back of "intangibles", not playing for a tire fire and playing the whole season.

 

[tony d]

Right now if I was picking in the NHL draft this year this guy would be my #1. patrick's going to be a good 1 too but Hischer's going to be better.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

It's kind of hard to judge Malgin off of his point totals considering I think he's been getting around only 10-12 minutes or so, or at least his ice time was steadily declining before they benched him.

 

[IceManCat]

It's kind of hard to judge Malgin off of his point totals considering I think he's been getting around only 10-12 minutes or so, or at least his ice time was steadily declining before they benched him.

This is correct,. Malgin is very skilled good player.

 

[JA]

A bit of current events news:

Nico has been named the only full-time Assistant Captain for the Halifax Mooseheads for the remainder of the season. Keigan Goetz has been named Captain.

http://halifaxmooseheads.ca/article/mooseheads-name-captain-and-assistants

Mooseheads name Captain and Assistants
February 2, 2017

The Halifax Mooseheads have named Keigan Goetz as the Captain of the team for the remainder of the season. The 20-year-old joined the Mooseheads on September 28th, 2016 after spending time in the OHL with both the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Barrie Colts. Goetz has five goals and nine assists in 45 games played this season in a Halifax uniform.

Nico Hischier was also named a full-time Assistant while Otto Somppi and Max Fortier will wear an “A” on their jersey during home games. On the road Frederic Aube and Jake Coughler will also serve as Assistants.

 

[93LEAFS]

http://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/18645344/nhl-ranking-top-50-prospects-2017-nhl-draft

Behind a paywall, but I assume I can say this much. Pronman has Hischier at one, not very surprised given how he emphasizes skill, and no one has a big advantage by stats.