Nico Hischier | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Brig, Switzerland | 4 January 1999||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shoots | Left | ||
NHL team Former teams |
New Jersey Devils SC Bern | ||
National team | Switzerland | ||
NHL draft |
1st overall, 2017 New Jersey Devils | ||
Playing career | 2015–present |
Nico Hischier (born 4 January 1999) is a Swiss professional ice hockey centre and captain of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hischier made his professional debut in his native Switzerland in 2015, spending time both in the top-tier National League A (NLA) and the second-tier National League B. He moved to North America for the 2016–17 season to play major junior hockey for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in hopes of furthering his hockey career; in his first season in the QMJHL, he was named rookie of the year, along with the award for best rookie in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the governing body for major junior hockey in Canada. Internationally Hischier has represented Switzerland at several junior tournaments, including two World Junior Championships. Regarded as a strong two-way forward and a top prospect for the 2017 NHL entry draft, Hischier was selected first overall by the Devils, the first time a Swiss player was selected first overall, and made his NHL debut in 2017. He was named captain of the Devils in 2021.