CHICAGO — Perhaps it was a good omen nine years ago when Nico Hischier slipped an oversized New Jersey Devils sweater over his head and posed for a photo with the club he was eventually destined to play for. The Brandon Wheat Kings centre was selected second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2017 NHL Draft 1:48

"I think me and Nico are completely different players," said Patrick, coming off an injury-plagued draft year in Brandon. Maker, a defenceman who models his game after Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson, became the highest player ever drafted from the Alberta Junior Hockey League — surpassing Joe Colborne who went 16th to Boston in 2008. An electric centre with game-breaking speed, Hischier rose into top spot with an emphatic first season in the Quebec Major Junior League, piling up 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games as a rookie for the Halifax Mooseheads. Devils general manager Ray Shero saw Hischier’s skill set fits in with his desire to run a "faster" system and felt like Hischier was the player to help resuscitate the franchise. 1.”

The Devils finished with a 28-40-14 record in 2016-17 and missed the postseason for the fifth consecutive season.
Swiss ice hockey player Nico Hischier is selected first by the New Jersey Devils.