It's hard to believe that nine years have passed since the New Jersey Devils selected Nico Hischier with the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.
It's even harder to believe that Hischier is already in the top 20 in games played in Devils history, despite the fact that he only has one Stanley Cup playoff series win to his name.
But the Devils captain crossed the 600-game threshold in New Jersey's 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.
“Everyone here plays for each other,” Hischier said. “Obviously, I wanted to win, and I know everyone here wanted to win, too.”
Hischier is already 19th on the Devils' all-time games played list, despite the fact that he is still only 10 months away from his 30th birthday. He's quietly having another great year by leading the Devils in goals (26) and is third on the team in points (58) with nine games played.
Nico Hischier is already a Devils all-time great through 600 games
He can fly under the radar, league-wide, and even in New Jersey. But through 600 games, Hischier is on his way to hanging his number from the rafters at the Prudential Center — and any potential future building in which the Devils play.
Hischier is four points behind Scott Gomez for sixth on the Devils' all-time points list and is already fifth on the Devils' all-time goals list with 197. With a hot finish he can hope to take sole possession of third place, as Travis Zajac and Bobby Holik share that mark with 202 goals in a Devils uniform.
If Hischier finished ahead of Zajac and Holik, or even tied with them, it would mean he reached his third 30-goal season and second in a row under Devils coach Sheldon Keefe. Keefe understands what an accomplishment that will be, especially with the defensive load that Hischier carries every night.
“I don’t give Nico Hischier a very easy transition,” Keefe said Sunday. “He is very carefree in areas where we need him to take extra charge for our team.
“To have those numbers and still be aggressive, is tremendous.”
Hischier often plays second fiddle to superstar center Jack Hughes. But even the Devils' record holder for single-season points can appreciate Hischier's accomplishment.
“He's headed for 1,000 [games]. I think 1,000 is a big number, right?” Hughes said of Hischier. “But he's very young, and has already played 600 games, he just has to keep going and he'll have a great career.”
The Devils would be wise to lock up Nico Hischier after this season
Hischier is eligible for a contract extension on July 1, and adding New Jersey's captain should be priority No. 1 this offseason – on par with hiring a coach and/or general manager if the Harris/Blitzer ownership group decides to make a change.
The key to any future success for the Devils is Hischier, even more so than Hughes. Hughes has shown himself to be an integral player as the last two seasons have been prematurely ended by injury to No. 86, but the Devils won't smell a Cup without Hischier's two-way play.
Not re-signing Hischier would be one of the first signs of the roster falling apart, which some Devils fans might be able to stomach based on how attractive the potential of this core is. The group headlined by Hischier and Hughes will ultimately win nothing more than a first-round series over the New York Rangers in 2023, but management should keep giving it a chance.
But Hischier will have to stay, too. For what it's worth, he's talking like a player who wants to wear No. 13 in New Jersey for years to come.
“I am extremely grateful for [playing 600 games with the Devils],'' Hischier said. “To be honest, it happens pretty fast. But I am grateful to have reached that milestone and hope there are more to come.”
