Nico Was The best defensive forward in the q last season, and has insane hockey IQ. I have done doubt he will have a strong rookie season, and I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes as your first line centre.
- Status
vtdevils2k
"Lets Go Baby!"
He is really going to be a good one. You can see his skill and high hockey IQ/sense. What makes him so good right now is defensively, he isn't lost. As a center there's a lot of responsibility and He knows where to go and what to do. They aren't sheltering him on wing and then transitioning him to center. I was very impressed, even though its just 1 preseason game.
He got thrown on the top line for a bit in the 3rd period and albeit it not too many shifts because of constant penalities, and he held his own, so I agree it would not surprise me to see him eventually at as the #1C at some point during the season, prob towards the end of the season.
Our coach has said they will only give him what he can handle, so he prob starts at #3C. Up to him to prove he deserves more minutes later on.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
I still think Zacha eventually wins the 1C job for this year, but Nico certainly has the skill to take it for himself.
Even if it was a miscommunication by the caps defenders that was an amazing play by nico. showed the entire package in one play. Hockey IQ (knowing to jump in and press when he did) defensive prowess (took the puck right off of the defenders stick) and the skill thats been talked about for the past year with that finish. He'll make the team.
VoidCreature
Before you see the light, you must die.
He was the best two-way forward in the draft in my opinion. All Patrick has on him at the moment is size.
I didn't really follow the draft this year, so haven't seen a huge amount of Hischier's play, but watching some highlights I am really impressed by him. He really looks like such a smart, opportunistic and responsible player, especially for his age.
Looking forward to watching him develop; I think he's going to prove a fantastic player for the Devils.
Looking forward to watching him develop; I think he's going to prove a fantastic player for the Devils.
Patrick has a better shot, I don't even think that is debatable. It'd be like arguing Patrick vs Hischier's skating.
VoidCreature
Before you see the light, you must die.
Patrick scored .6 goals/game in his draft year, .56 in his draft -1.
We don't have a CHL draft -1 for Hischier, but in his draft year he scored .66 goals/game. Prior to the wrist injury that saw him shoot 1% over his last 14 games, he was at .86.
Hischier's shot doesn't have the power to it that Patrick's does, but he gets it off quick and it's very accurate. Reminds me of Mike Cammalleri's shot.
Look at where Hischier scores from. He benefits from his speed, ability to drive net and stick handle at speed. Patrick has the better shot, that doesn't always mean you are the better goal scorer. Compare someone like Michael Ryder with Ryan Smyth. Patrick's shot is noticeably better, he's much better at beating guys from distance.
Also, there is a flaw in viewing CHL leagues scoring as equal. Iain Fyffe's study into it, once adjusting for age and league quality, the OHL had a multiplier of 1.1, WHL of 1.05 and the QMJHL of .95. It'd also be foolish to remove 14 games outright from a sample as small as a QMJHL season.
Last edited:
HenriquesJawLine
Registered User
- Mar 6, 2009
- 4,873
- 2,675
Patrick's shot is the most elite skill of the two players imo. I don't think you'll see Nico taking too many one timers. Different kind of players.
Biggest difference is that Nico has all the brains to score, whereas Patrick seems like mackinnon, a bunch of raw talent, but just not enough brains to be elite.
- Sep 28, 2014
- 78,580
- 126,864
Lol that is so far from reality that it's honestly staggering.
Patrick's hockey IQ is off the charts.
It's probably his best attribute.
The only thing Patrick isn't elite at is skating, which is just "solid" at the moment.
Patrick is far from a volume shooter like MacKinnon. He's also significantly less puck dominant. Patrick is closer to Monahan, who is a consistent 25 to 30 goal threat as a center in the NHL.
I really don't see the similarities between MacKinnon and Patrick. They are so different as players that it's quite far-reaching to draw the IQ comparison you are. Patrick is good at finding weak spots in the D, and getting open for a playmaker to find him. While he rarely makes a flashy pass, he is good at making the smart simplistic pass to maintain possession and gain the cycle.
If you want to say Hischier will score more than Patrick, that is fine. But, I wouldn't base that on Hockey IQ. It's more his ability to use his speed and stickhandling to get into better shooting areas. Although, I think Patrick will be the better goal scorer, as he's more likely to be used as a trigger man on the powerplay, especially early on. Whereas if all goes to plan with the Devil's Zacha is probably the guy they want trying to pick corners in PP situations.
snipes
How cold? I’m ice cold.
- Dec 28, 2015
- 56,238
- 65,597
How much have you watched Patrick play?
I've seen probably 30 games of his at least over the last 3 years, that's bs. He's an excellent passer and definitely possesses high end hockey IQ.
Jtown
Registered User
With the puck on his stick i like Hischier's playmaking ability more. With the puck off his stick I like Patrick more.
These guys are two very different centers. Hischier reminds me of a datsyuk , where he can create from nothing. Patrick reminds me of toews who is smart and sees the play and is able to get it off his stick and be ready for a quick snipe.
These guys are two very different centers. Hischier reminds me of a datsyuk , where he can create from nothing. Patrick reminds me of toews who is smart and sees the play and is able to get it off his stick and be ready for a quick snipe.
I've seen more than enough of him to entirely dislike his NHL projection. That being said, it's about Hischier here so I won't bother arguing what I see to what You See about an entirely different prospect
Not a huge fan of Patrick either personally. Definitely think NJ made the proper selection. Still think Patrick can be a solid NHL'r though.
I would argue Nico's Hands/Speed combination are equally as impressive as Patrick's shot, perhaps even more so.
- Feb 5, 2010
- 49,673
- 21,027
There is no doubt at all that Patricks shot is significantly better than Nicos. IQ wise they are probably pretty similar. Hischiers skating is better as are his hands in close, though the gap there is small. I don't think you could have gone wrong with either of these players, and it's pretty pointless debating who is better after a single preseason game.
Anyway, I was quite happy with Nicos defensive game. I do think he needs to bulk up and work on his stamina, but it's hard to say he should go back to juniors to do that.
Agreed.
Anyway, I was quite happy with Nicos defensive game. I do think he needs to bulk up and work on his stamina, but it's hard to say he should go back to juniors to do that.
Agreed.
Muston Atthews
Bunch of Bangerz
VoidCreature
Before you see the light, you must die.
SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
VoidCreature
Before you see the light, you must die.
They can't stop talking about him. Don't see any way he doesn't make the team.
TheDoldrums
Registered User
I'd like to see them together at times during the season. Would be fun to watch for sure.
- Status
