Nico Hischier (18) was drafted 1st in the NHL Draft in Chicago by the New Jersey Devils. Never had a Swiss known such an honor. “I can’t believe it,” said the hero of the night. “My biggest goal is to play in NHL. Frankly, I’m not able to express the feeling I’m feeling right now. «
The Haut-Valaisan won his duel from a distance with Nolan Patrick, the other player likely to interest the first two teams to choose. Author of 86 points (37 goals / 49 assists) in 57 games with the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Hischier « forged his success » by his rise to power and undoubtedly the quality of his defensive play.
If Hischier and Patrick have the « complete package » of what one expects from a modern center, the Valaisan has boosted his CV by succeeding in thunderous U20 Worlds and by appearing less fragile than his opponent. Patrick had 2 hernias which hampered his natural development. That did not prevent him from being selected in 2nd place by the Philadelphia Flyers. The podium is completed by Finnish Niro Heiskanen.
Nico Hischier is not the only Swiss to have been selected by an NHL franchise. Tobias Geisser and Gilles Senn also enjoyed this honor this weekend in Chicago. The Washington Capitals set their sights on Tobias Geisser (18) in the 4th round of this draft, in 120th position. For his part, the Valaisan porter of Davos Gilles Senn (21) was chosen by the Devils on the occasion of the 5th round (129th position).
Read also:NHL – draft: Nico Hischier from Visp to the New Jersey Devils!
ats / bao
Raeto Raffainer’s tweet, director of the Swiss national teams
Nico Hischier in the arms of his mother Katja
Hischier 7th European drafted « no1 »
Nico Hischier is the 7th European to be called in 1st after Mats Sundin (1989), Roman Hamrlik (1992), Patrik Stefan (1999), Ilya Kovalchuk (2001), Alex Ovechkin (2004) and Nail Yakupov (2012).
The 9th Swiss drafted in the 1st round
Hischier rewrites Swiss history by becoming the best drafted Helvetian in history. The « record » previously belonged to Nino Niederreiter, chosen by the New York Islanders in 5th position in the 2010 draft. He is the 9th Swiss drafted in the 1st round. He joins Michel Riesen (14th choice in 1997), Luca Cereda (24th / 1999), Luca Sbisa (19th / 2008), Nino Niederreiter (5th / 2010), Sven Bärtschi (13th / 2011), Mirco Müller (18th / 2013) , Kevin Fiala (11th / 2014) and Timo Meier (9th / 2015).
There will therefore be 2 Swiss in the New Jersey Devils. 22-year-old defenseman Mirco Müller was traded to the San José Sharks last Friday.
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