Captain Swiss-tastic: the story of Nico Hischier
New Jersey is one of the most delicate parts of the United States of America, with model citizens and an established desire to compete with the finest. However, the state hasn’t been blessed with many top-notch sports teams compared to other illustrious towns and cities in the country. One exception has been the New Jersey Devils, a squad that competes in the National Hockey League and has been flying the New Jersey flag for a couple of decades. This team is graced by some of the most visible players in the league and has a noteworthy foreign representation.
The Devils are led by a Swiss wunderkind, Nico Hischier, a player selected as the first pick in the 2017 NHL draft and someone who has gone from strength to strength since his arrival. “Captain Nico” always gives his best in the ice pack, and he is one of the most famous captains around. Here is his story and why New Jersey people have taken to him and are ready to reap the fruits of his captaincy for years to come.
Suitability as Captain
The New Jersey Devils have come a long way since they were once regarded as the league’s punching bag and they have won a credible three Stanley Cups, five conference championships, and nine division championships. It is a successful team, and as such, they require a captain that can tick all the boxes and command respect from his fellow pros. Hischier is just the man, and he has shown over time that he is a leader of men and a constant performer on the ice, even when he isn’t a hundred percent fit.
“I think when you look at a player with the hockey sense and competitiveness he has. It’s the continuation of understanding the nuances of the game and being able to read plays and put yourself in situations to be in a position to make plays on both sides of the puck,” Devils head coach John Hynes told NHL.com.
Hischier is made of grit and determination, two things that the people of New Jersey identify with. He is a proven leader in a relatively inexperienced team out to punch well above their weight in the next couple of years. The New Jersey Devils are committed to consistency. It is already looking like a masterstroke making Nico Hischier their captain, as he is signed through 2026-27 and happens to be the youngest skipper in league history.
A few pundits raised eyebrows, but his coach isn’t worried.
“He cares so much about the team and doing well, he may pull himself out of the face-off circle when things aren’t going good,” Hynes said. “It’s not because he doesn’t want to do it; it’s because he feels he’s letting people down, and part of being the man is you can let some people down at times, but you got to stay in the box and take your swings, too.”
Captain Swiss-tastic is here to stay, and he is here to give Devils fans, as well as New Jersey natives, something to smile about for the next couple of years.
Charity Begins at Home
Everyone loves a celebrity that gives back to the community, as what would be the said celebrity without the support of the community? Hischier doesn’t give because he’s mandated to; he gives because he knows it’s the right thing and the people of New Jersey have taken to his easy charm. That’s why it didn’t come as a surprise when he and his teammate, Mirco Müller, were selected to hand over a $20,000 grant to the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation in 2019. The teammates visited with kids on the inpatient unit at PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick.
They chose Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation to receive the Fellowship funds from the Swiss Society of New York. This grant was instrumental in helping to make up the financial difference between the rehabilitation a child needs and what his or her family’s insurance will cover in the long run. Hischier also makes other charitable donations, but he is a very private individual that likes to keep these things out of the spotlight. It might be a little challenging to maintain such a low profile in the coming years, as being the captain of the New Jersey Devils comes with a lot of press and a lot of responsibilities.
Final Thoughts
Winning is important in sports, and that’s one thing that you don’t have to tell the New Jersey Devils captain and star centerman. He said way back in 2019 about his performance in his second year in the league, “I have to figure out that I can contribute something to the team in every game to give us a chance to win, and not just a few games.”
It’s fair to say that he is getting it right, step by step, as he has made remarkable strides since he uttered that affirmation. The Devils have the fourth pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, and fans are pretty sure that they would pick a player that puts them in a great position to fulfill their long-term goal. But one thing is for sure, the keys to the squad are safe with their Swiss Captain fantastic Hischier, and playoff activity will soon return to the illustrious state of New Jersey!
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