Nico Hischier is entering his eighth NHL season – but a lot is new for his New Jersey Devils this year.Image: www.imago-images.de
New coach, new goalie, new season: A lot has changed at the New Jersey Devils, but the captain is still the same. Before the start of the season, Nico Hischier was a Alex Reed on the CH Media podcast “Hockey-Talk”.
04.10.2024, 11:3104.10.2024, 16:29
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Pucks have been gliding across the ice in Europe for several weeks now and today, Friday, the best ice hockey league in the world is resuming play – albeit in foreign territory for the time being. So there are two games on the program in Prague. The New Jersey Devils face the Buffalo Sabers today at 7 p.m. (live on TV24) and on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Three Swiss are also there: Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler. They have been in the Czech capital with the New Jersey Devils since Monday morning to prepare for the start of the season. The day of arrival was particularly strict, as Hischier explains in the CH Media podcast “Hockey-Talk” with Thomas Roost and Matthias Röthlisberger. “We flew at night and then went straight to training.” The team wanted to get into the rhythm, which had been moved forward by six hours, as quickly as possible. This probably only happened with a few coffees, smiles Hischier.
Nevertheless, the 25-year-old is of course really looking forward to the upcoming start of the season – also because of the new coach Sheldon Keefe. “He is very detailed in his instructions. I like that because as a player you clearly know what you have to do,” said Hischier. Compared to his predecessor Lindy Ruff, Keefe, who was previously coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs for almost five years, relies on a lot of speed and a traditional system. “That suits our types of players,” says the Swiss international and adds: “Of course we’re still in the getting-to-know-you phase. But what I saw makes me very positive. And I think the other guys do too.”
And it’s not just in the coaching position that something has changed in New Jersey after the disappointing last season. In goal, Jacob Markström should do better than the goalie quartet around Vitek Vanecek and the Swiss Akira Schmid, who was traded to Las Vegas, in the previous season. Hischier trusts those responsible around General Manager Tom Fitzgerald “100 percent”. Of course he can make his comments on certain topics, “but I don’t say much about it. The organization knows exactly what the team needs.”
New goalie, new coach: Jacob Markström …Image: www.imago-images.de
… and Sheldon Keefe joined the Devils this summer.Image: keystone
In the eyes of Watson expert Adrian Bürgler, Hischier can confidently rely on GM Fitzgerald and Co. The Devils could have solved the most important problems in the squad during the offseason and should be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference again. Among other things, the commitments of defender Brett Pesce and returnee Tomas Tatar would be good for the team. Striker Hischier also believes this: “The experienced newcomers also make my role as captain easier because I can ask them for advice or how certain things are handled in other teams.”
Hischier also sees the fact that the center is now entering his fifth season as captain of the Devils as confirmation “that I’m doing something right, and not just on the ice. That the players see me as a contact person.” Hischier says he always tries to have an open ear, “even when it’s not about hockey,” and to help the younger players. On the ice it’s about “doing the things that help the team win. It’s not just about goals and assists, but also about details.”
This is what his teammates, his new coach and of course the fans of the New Jersey Devils expect from Nico Hischier again on a regular basis starting tonight. Despite the difficult circumstances with the time difference, the early start of the season and the resulting shortened preparation, the number 1 pick from 2017 is full of anticipation. Looking at the first two games, but also the rest of the season and the many changes in the team, he says: “The best way to come together is to just get going and play.”
The QR code directly to the podcast:
Nico Hischier – an NHL star in the military
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Nico Hischier – an NHL star in the military
Nico Hischier is currently completing the top sports RS in Magglingen.
those: keystone / alessandro della valle
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