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

[Fear the Wushu]

I vehemently disagree. Nico is playing a much bigger role on this team than Bratt and he's being put out there against the other team's top checking unit, and normally top player, for extended amounts of time and holding his own. He's been the first line center for this team, essentially since the third or fourth game of the season and has basically lead them, along with Hall, to first in the metro so far. That's an incredible feat.

Disagree. Both have been studs, however, Jesper is a flashier player who excels on the PP and PK, and never makes a bad play on the puck, almost ever... Nico has made many more errors so far in their young careers. Jesper is smaller than Nico but he so much better along the boards, I see Nico on the floor pretty consistently. He is also a better skater than Nico through the neutral zone. He has been more vital to our teams success thus far.

 

[Blender]

Nico definitely needs to get much stronger, but the talent level and the hockey IQ are there. Great player and the sky's the limit.

 

[135ace]

Disagree. Both have been studs, however, Jesper is a flashier player who excels on the PP and PK, and never makes a bad play on the puck, almost ever... Nico has made many more errors so far in their young careers. Jesper is smaller than Nico but he so much better along the boards, I see Nico on the floor pretty consistently. He is also a better skater than Nico through the neutral zone. He has been more vital to our teams success thus far.

I pretty much agree with Bratt being a more "solid" player so far in terms of carrying the puck, play on the board, etc, but I don't think he's the flashier player. Nico has had some really great moments and his biggest problem is just that he still needs to put on muscle and adjust. I think Nico has better speed and stick handling than Bratt, but Jesper is a monster on the puck. He is incredibly poised and draws so many opposing players to him creating so much space for others.

I've been incredibly impressed by both players, maybe more so with Bratt, but again we do have to remember that Nico is playing #1c while Bratt's been shuffled around. I think they both end up with 50+ points this season and hope they both stay in the top 6.

 

[VoidCreature]

Kid is a warrior. Said their first period was shit city, then backed it up with a goal and two assists to help get his team back in the game.

Literally couldn't be happier with him.

 

[haak84]

Bratt's lateral movement is extremely impressive. He has some serious up-and-down speed but his shiftiness is on another level. As mentioned above, when Hischier puts on more muscle he will be almost impossible to get off the puck. Bratt is stronger along the boards at the moment but in the long run Hischier will be a force there. His stick checking is top notch and will improve with strength.

I'm going to sound crazy but I don't think there is a limit on Nico's ceiling right now. He's steadily improved at astounding levels over the past year and a half. I would not be surprised to see that continue.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Disagree. Both have been studs, however, Jesper is a flashier player who excels on the PP and PK, and never makes a bad play on the puck, almost ever... Nico has made many more errors so far in their young careers. Jesper is smaller than Nico but he so much better along the boards, I see Nico on the floor pretty consistently. He is also a better skater than Nico through the neutral zone. He has been more vital to our teams success thus far.

Getting 1C duty means that Hischier has consistently had to play against the other team's top shutdown unit and/or best line. Not exactly the easiest way to ease in the league. Quality of competition matters greatly in assessing Hischier vs Bratt.

Both have been fantastic, by the way.

 

[BruinLVGA]

By the way... With 14 points in 17 games, Hischier is now 2nd in scoring for all rookies (and 2nd on the Devils behind Hall), Behind Keller and his 17 points in 19 games.

Oh and by the way, in 16-17 Auston Matthews after 17 games was at 12 points (6g, 6a)... Not comparing Nico to Auston, but one has to wonder about the difference in hype...

 

[93LEAFS]

By the way... With 14 points in 17 games, Hischier is now 2nd in scoring for all rookies (and 2nd on the Devils behind Hall), Behind Keller and his 17 points in 19 games.

Oh and by the way, in 16-17 Auston Matthews after 17 games was at 12 points (6g, 6a)... Not comparing Nico to Auston, but one has to wonder about the difference in hype...

He's riding a very high oiSH% at this point of 13% at 5v5. You really can't draw much from 17 games, I mean, in 17 games RNH had 14 points (7 goals and 7 assists), which is the level of first overall he was most commonly compared to.

Hischier looks better than I expected immediately, and maybe was slightly underhyped, but when a whole team is performing at a high level above expectations on a team riding a 103.6 PDO it can inflate numbers. Maybe he can ride high underlying numbers all year, but its a bit early to say people had this draft wrong.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

He's riding a very high oiSH% at this point of 13% at 5v5. You really can't draw much from 17 games, I mean, in 17 games RNH had 14 points (7 goals and 7 assists), which is the level of first overall he was most commonly compared to.

Hischier looks better than I expected immediately, and maybe was slightly underhyped, but when a whole team is performing at a high level above expectations on a team riding a 103.6 PDO it can inflate numbers. Maybe he can ride high underlying numbers all year, but its a bit early to say people had this draft wrong.

Was RNH playing against top lines? Serious question. I expect Nico to get a bit of relief when Zajac comes back on Thursday.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

He's riding a very high oiSH% at this point of 13% at 5v5. You really can't draw much from 17 games, I mean, in 17 games RNH had 14 points (7 goals and 7 assists), which is the level of first overall he was most commonly compared to.

Hischier looks better than I expected immediately, and maybe was slightly underhyped, but when a whole team is performing at a high level above expectations on a team riding a 103.6 PDO it can inflate numbers. Maybe he can ride high underlying numbers all year, but its a bit early to say people had this draft wrong.

Meh. If you watched the games you'd know that Nico has probably been the most unlucky Devil on the team. He was really snakebitten for a period and quite easily should have 3 or 4 more goals.

 

[93LEAFS]

Meh. If you watched the games you'd know that Nico has probably been the most unlucky Devil on the team. He was really snakebitten for a period and quite easily should have 3 or 4 more goals.

I've seen him play multiple times. He's been more lucky than unlucky, I'll trust the underlying numbers over the eye test any day of the week. No player converts every high-end scoring chance.

For example, I've watched every single minute of Matthews this year, and he's riding a 13.6% oiSH at the moment. I can't think of any instances of him really being lucky, and I can think of chances he should have converted. But, even with all the watching I've done, I know his numbers at 5v5 are bound to regress, simply due to the fact converting at that rate isn't going to hold over a long period of time.

 

[93LEAFS]

Was RNH playing against top lines? Serious question. I expect Nico to get a bit of relief when Zajac comes back on Thursday.

I don't have a perfect memory of what RNH was used for his first 17 games in 2011-12, but RNH arguably faced equal level competion over the whole year if QOC measures are to be believed. QOC is generally overvalued, its way more about QOT. The dynamics of line matching tends to balance it out, unless you are talking about players getting lesser minutes in extreme usage situations such as Gaustad in Nashville.

 

[Lou is God]

I've seen him play multiple times. He's been more lucky than unlucky, I'll trust the underlying numbers over the eye test any day of the week. No player converts every high-end scoring chance.

Lol @ he's been more lucky than unlucky, prove that. Or stop trying to sell this kid short. One or the other.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Lol @ he's been more lucky than unlucky, prove that. Or stop trying to sell this kid short. One or the other.

Amen to that.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I've seen him play multiple times. He's been more lucky than unlucky, I'll trust the underlying numbers over the eye test any day of the week. No player converts every high-end scoring chance.

No, he hasn't been, and the fact that you think you can say that based on a few games you've watched is dumb. I don't think any Devils fan would say that. He's literally been robbed of goals more than any player on the team. I don't care if the team shooting percentage when he's on the ice is a couple points higher than it will be at the end of the year. Individually, he's been unlucky. He's had a couple phantom assists where he didn't do anything and he's been robbed at minimum 4 times.

 

[93LEAFS]

Lol @ he's been more lucky than unlucky, prove that. Or stop trying to sell this kid short. One or the other.

The fact he has a 13% oiSH, and the fact his team has more goals (14) than their xGF (9), when he is on the ice. Those are simply the underlying numbers. Those are simply the underlying numbers, maybe he's a great player, but no one holds over 10 long term in recent memory outside of Crosby and Stamkos.

As stated earlier, but maybe not caught before the edit, I'll repeat this about a player on my own team.

For example, I've watched every single minute of Matthews this year, and he's riding a 13.6% oiSH at the moment. I can't think of any instances of him really being lucky, and I can think of chances he should have converted. But, even with all the watching I've done, I know his numbers at 5v5 are bound to regress, simply due to the fact converting at that rate isn't going to hold over a long period of time.

 

[Lou is God]

Lol of course, Matthews is unlucky but Nico is lucky. You only proved your bias.

 

[93LEAFS]

Lol of course, Matthews is unlucky but Nico is lucky. You only proved your bias.

I think you misunderstood what I said. I know Matthews has been on the favorable side of puck-luck. Where have I said Matthews has been unlucky. The last sentence infers I know he has been on the favorable side of this and it is bound to regress.

For example, I've watched every single minute of Matthews this year, and he's riding a 13.6% oiSH at the moment. I can't think of any instances of him really being lucky, and I can think of chances he should have converted. But, even with all the watching I've done, I know his numbers at 5v5 are bound to regress, simply due to the fact converting at that rate isn't going to hold over a long period of time.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Yeah, Nico has been on the short of end of like 5 highlight reel, crazy saves. He should have more goals.

 

[swissexpert]

A

Yeah, Nico has been on the short of end of like 5 highlight reel, crazy saves. He should have more goals.

This.
On the other hand, he also had like 3-4 assists where he wasn't even on the ice anymore as the goal was scored. Or just dump-ins that someone converted.
14 points in 17 games is not underselling him, it represents pretty much what he showed so far.

Considering that is an 68-point pace and he's 18 years old playing #1C duties in only his 2nd season in NA hockey, I'd call that an amazing start to his NHL career.

The eye-test also tells me that once his body is more ready, the sky is the limit for him.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Really couldn't care less about expected points or on-ice shooting percentages. He's playing well and doesn't look overwhelmed in the slightest playing with top-line responsibilities and assignments.

All the "middling first overall player who will struggle and not being anything special" stuff looks terribly overblown. As good as he's looked, you can tell there's lots of room to grow.

 

[Missionhockey]

Disagree. Both have been studs, however, Jesper is a flashier player who excels on the PP and PK, and never makes a bad play on the puck, almost ever... Nico has made many more errors so far in their young careers. Jesper is smaller than Nico but he so much better along the boards, I see Nico on the floor pretty consistently. He is also a better skater than Nico through the neutral zone. He has been more vital to our teams success thus far.

Bratt is in a position to screw up much less than Nico, simply because he's a winger as opposed to a center. The errors that Nico usually makes often come from the fact that Nico is back supporting the defense and then tries to skate the puck out of the zone. Bratt doesn't make those kind of errors because that's not his job. Hynes also uses Nico more, despite the fact that they both get time of special teams and Bratt is a staple on the PK. I think that right there tells you who is more important to the team's success.

"So much better" is also hyperbole. I'll concede that Bratt has been better but I don't think it's because he's stronger on the puck, I think it's because he's trickier. He's not actually holding off a 210lbs defenseman, instead he kind of fakes one way, puts the defenseman off balance, and then he's gone. Nico's engages the defense more along the boards and right now I think he's just learning what he can and cannot get away with. There are a lot of times he ends up on his butt, but then there are also times he shakes the much bigger defenseman that is draped all over him like this:


I also think that the difference between the two skating in the neutral zone is negligible, they're both pretty good.

 

[zharkenby]

I've seen him play multiple times. He's been more lucky than unlucky, I'll trust the underlying numbers over the eye test any day of the week. No player converts every high-end scoring chance.

For example, I've watched every single minute of Matthews this year, and he's riding a 13.6% oiSH at the moment. I can't think of any instances of him really being lucky, and I can think of chances he should have converted. But, even with all the watching I've done, I know his numbers at 5v5 are bound to regress, simply due to the fact converting at that rate isn't going to hold over a long period of time.

Clearly the only game you’ve watched him play was when the leafs played the devils. Still salty eh?

 

[BomaLightDevils]

Yeah, Nico has been on the short of end of like 5 highlight reel, crazy saves. He should have more goals.

Could it be that he's shot is he's weak point?

I'm not the biggest fan of all this analytics but the right analytics has its place if you use it correct. But looking at Nico what that do him good is how hard he works and compete, on top of that he oozes skill and iq.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Clearly the only game you’ve watched him play was when the leafs played the devils. Still salty eh?

I think 93Leafs is pretty reasonable in his analysis, his opinion has nothing to do with personal bias. I think he's undersold Nico a little bit, but he certainly makes fair points. I think it's reasonable to assume that Nico's ppg has accurately reflected his play. He may have gotten a couple secondary assists where he wasn't instrumental in the play, which could drop off, but his goal scoring should increase as he's been pretty snakebitten with high quality opportunities. He has the second lowest shooting percentage of the regulars only ahead of Coleman. He also tends to generate opportunities in premium areas of the ice, so that number should improve.