The New Jersey Devils are without their beloved captain, Nico Hischier. The captain will be out for the future; a return date has not been announced. This injury comes after the Devils lost their starting goaltender a few weeks ago.
The New Jersey Devils faced the Montreal Canadiens on January 25th, and Hischier took a crosscheck from Nick Suzuki. He removed himself from the lineup in the third period after a 36-second shift. He was clearly in discomfort and headed back to New Jersey for evaluation. He has not appeared back in the lineup; he was also marked as day-to-day. Hischier is scheduled to be re-evaluated next week.
On January 29th, head coach Sheldon Keefe announced that Hischier is now labeled week-to-week. The injury itself has not been disclosed. This is not a good sign for the Devils as they get closer to the end of the season. Hischier is one of their best players and has been an asset on the ice. He has played in 51 games this season, with 24 goals, 43 points, and 46 blocks.
The NHL is coming up on a two-week break where they will host the Four Nations Face-Off. New Jersey can keep Hischier on the IR until after the two-week break, ensuring he is healthy. If they take this route, they risk dropping in the standings if they can’t win.
New Jersey has recalled Brian Halonen, the Utica Comets AHL team’s top goal scorer. Without Hischier in the lineup, the team’s future is questioned as they lack center depth. Dawson Mercer has slid into Hischier’s spot at starting center. The team struggled on Monday without Hischier in the lineup, falling to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Hischier is not the only Devil who is injured. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom is also out of the lineup after getting injured a few weeks ago. Jack Hughes has also struggled with a finger injury, he has been playing, but injured nonetheless. Without these three healthy, they have struggled and will continue to unless the franchise can fill their roles with top replacements.
The Devils are still fighting for a playoff spot; without Hischier, the team will have to fight harder. They are seven points in front of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the third-place spot in the Metropolitan Division. They have played 52 games this season, with 62 points. The team must step up and consistently beat their opponents to secure their spot.
Hischier is the highest-drafted Swedish-born player in the NHL. The Devils selected him number one in the 2017 draft. He scored his first two NHL goals of his career in October of 2017 against the Ottawa Senators. He played a full 82 games that season and recorded 52 points. In 2020, he made his NHL All-Star debut, representing the New Jersey Devils.
In February of 2021, at 22 years old, Hischier was named the 12th captain of the Devils Franchise. He was the second youngest Devil to hold that title. He was also the second youngest Swedish-born captain in NHL history, joining Roman Yosi from the Nashville Predators.
New Jersey Devils are facing the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, January 29th. The two teams met two days prior, and the Flyers beat the Devils in a 4-2 win. The Devils must find the win on Wednesday to stay consistent and continue their lead over the Blue Jackets.
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