Nico Hischier was given the honor of being named the 12th captain in New Jersey Devils history in 2021.
It is a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly, as the now 25-year-old tends to take on much of the burden when things go sideways for his team.
“I think he feels like he carries the weight of the team on his shoulders, which really is not fair,” former Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said of Hischier. “He takes the losses hard. He personally wants to feel like he’s responsible for how this team operates.”
Related: Nico Hischier Valued By Devils Teammates
When given the captaincy, Hischier was 22 years and 47 days old, the youngest captain in the league at the time. Of course, the 2017 first-overall pick would need an assist or two from his teammates as he learned what it meant to be a captain in the NHL.
“We have a lot of leaders in the locker room, and I’m sure they’re going to help me,” he said in 2021.
Hischier’s desire to understand varying perspectives and ask questions has not changed during his tenure of wearing the “C.”
Nov 25, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) waits for the face-off during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
As his leadership evolved, Hischier always had teammates to learn from and lean on. Travis Zajac, Andy Greene, and Brian Boyle were only some of the veterans the Swiss center played with over the years.
This season, the Devils front office brought in experienced players who could help take the team to the next level because, as everyone knows, leadership goes beyond the captain.
“It is not just on one guy,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It takes a team. It takes support. From what I have seen with all the additions, (Hischier) is going to have a lot more support from a leadership standpoint. A lot of different types of personalities. You need different types of leaders, and I think we have that. That is going to support, certainly, Nico as the captain, but our entire team.”
Hischier’s fellow countryman, Timo Meier, agrees with his head coach.
“It is so many guys that have to bring their own way of leadership,” Meier said. “Some guys might be speaking up more. Some guys might be leading by example. Everybody has their own way of showing their leadership.”
Mar 21, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) and New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) fist bump after the Devils win over the Winnipeg Jets at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2024-25 campaign days away and expectations higher than ever, Hischier remains the same professional he has always been. He returned to New Jersey physically prepared for the season ahead and has put in the work to be the best version of himself.
Before the team left for Prague, the young captain sat at his stall and handled his media availability for the day. It was then that Hischier was asked if he felt he has more leadership support with the additions of players like Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, and Stefan Noesen.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” Hischier said. “We got new guys coming in who have been around a while, and they know how hard the league is. I mean, I have experienced it as well. I always appreciate having the help that I can get from the guys (and) the coaching staff. I sometimes tend to take a lot on myself, and being able to share that with other guys and having guys help out is obviously great. It is always good to have these guys help me out.”
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Knowing how much he puts on himself, it has been a good lesson for Hischier to learn that asking for help and having that necessary support is okay.
“It is important,” he said. “I feel at the end of the day, you can do as much as you can. Being able to ask questions about how other teams work or what they do or getting some ideas is important. It helps you out. You grow that way. Trying things out, too, and if it is not working out then you learn from it. That is how you grow. It is definitely good for me to have guys in here that I could go ask and help me out.”
The Hockey News asked Keefe what his first impression of his captain was from their initial phone calls this summer. The head coach spoke about poise, confidence, and accountability.
“There’s definitely poise there,” Keefe said of his initial thoughts on Hischier. “That is the first thing (I noticed) and confidence. Clearly, was not happy with his season and (he) took it personal, I think, with how the team performed as well. Taking some ownership and accountability as a leader for the group, I think is an important thing.”
Hischier’s 200-foot game and offensive talent will always be the first thing fans notice, but his desire to grow and willingness to learn and become better off the ice should never be understated.
New Jersey’s captain has the experience and the necessary support to help lead his team to the playoffs this season. And make no mistake, the pressure will be on, as the Devils are heavily favored not only to make the postseason but also to make a run.
It takes more than a captain to lead a team throughout a grueling 82-game season. Hischier has been described as the heartbeat of his club by his teammates, but he will need support.
Thanks to Fitzgerald’s additions, he has it.
