Who is more NHL ready? Will they both need a year down below? I would think the Devils would want to draft the player closer to breaking the lineup. I'd hope whoever we draft they would be ready to go from day 1.
- SnipeDevil6

I don't mean this in a troll-y way, but either guy could probably step right in. There isn't a lot of competition at the center position on the Devils.

My personal opinion: Hischier will be the better of the two.

EK kind of stealing your thunder with this topic today

I won't pretend to be super informed on these two guys, but based on a bit of reading I feel like Patrick has been set at the top of this draft class for over two years, and missed a bunch of time this year due to the sports hernia, allowing Hischier to "last minute" make a run at being potentially #1 by having a great season. I personally feel like you go with the guy who's been the consensus for years over someone who's had one great season while the other player missed a bunch of time. Recency bias. I'm sure both are great players but as of now I'd go for Patrick.

Man I wish the Stars had #2 instead of the Flyers. Pressure's on!

Maybe we trade down? A trade with Colorado or Dallas?

1st overall and 2nd rounder for Colorado's 1st and Duchene?
1st overall and 2nd rounder for Klingberg and 1st rounder?

Hope not, but wouldn't surprise me.

Patrick is ready for the NHL and seems more dominant and grounded.

Nico fits the bill for the Devils MO.

Injuries may not be much of a concern but it should be. Patrick's been out 3 months at a time on multiple occasions. Hernia and groin issues are things to monitor and that's what worries me the most. Worried we'd have a Gaborik on our hands.

I really like both guys. I think Nolan fits what we need... a true top line center, but Nico is pretty dynamic. I think given the injuries factoring in.... I think Nico goes 1st, even though I think Nolan is the better fit. I just hope Nico is solid on Center, I do see he also plays the wing. Like I said I think Nico goes 1st, but I would really want Nolan 1st overall.

Maybe we trade down? A trade with Colorado or Dallas?

1st overall and 2nd rounder for Colorado's 1st and Duchene?
1st overall and 2nd rounder for Klingberg and 1st rounder?

Hope not, but wouldn't surprise me.

Patrick is ready for the NHL and seems more dominant and grounded.

Nico fits the bill for the Devils MO.

Injuries may not be much of a concern but it should be. Patrick's been out 3 months at a time on multiple occasions. Hernia and groin issues are things to monitor and that's what worries me the most. Worried we'd have a Gaborik on our hands.
- NaNa04

Moving up 1 or 2 spots in a less-than-stellar draft is not even remotely close to being worth Duchene or Klingberg.

Moving up 1 or 2 spots in a less-than-stellar draft is not even remotely close to being worth Duchene or Klingberg.
- eichiefs9

Klingberg is god awful in his own zone. what you guys want is Tanev and our 1st

Klingberg is god awful in his own zone. what you guys want is Tanev and our 1st
- SRam19

He is, but still not worth giving up his offensive skills to move up one spot in an average draft.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...c-289185128?tid=277764372

Patrick had a sports hernia, a broken collarbone and a groin pull.. his knees shoulders and most importantly head are fine. I think the injury angle is way over blown

https://www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-john-quenneville-pulling-for-nolan-patrick-at-nhl-draft/c-289185128?tid=277764372
- blizzzard

...Of course he is going to favor picking the guy he played with over the one he has never seen play in person. And, even if he didnt, I doubt he would say so to a media outlet.

...Of course he is going to favor picking the guy he played with over the one he has never seen play in person. And, even if he didnt, I doubt he would say so to a media outlet.
- IrischesGlueck

Still good reviews and I never stated it to be un obvious I posted it with no comment. I think we can't lose with either guy but us Patrick guys are just as skeptical about Nico being a flash in the pan and burning out just as fast as he lit up as you Nico guys are that Nolan is somehow going to fall apart. both guys are almost equal and both have their concerns, if Nico didn't he would of been the consensus number 1 last year and not in dead heat tie with one month left on a kid who only played 20 games this year and still put up over a ppg.

Also by the logic that being more Dynamic is more important how come ( minus the winger vs C debate ) Drouin wasn't the consensus number 1 over Mackinnon? He was miles and miles away the most DYNAMIC player in that draft yet he slipped to 3? and no one blinked an eye.

EK kind of stealing your thunder with this topic today

I won't pretend to be super informed on these two guys, but based on a bit of reading I feel like Patrick has been set at the top of this draft class for over two years, and missed a bunch of time this year due to the sports hernia, allowing Hischier to "last minute" make a run at being potentially #1 by having a great season. I personally feel like you go with the guy who's been the consensus for years over someone who's had one great season while the other player missed a bunch of time. Recency bias. I'm sure both are great players but as of now I'd go for Patrick.

Man I wish the Stars had #2 instead of the Flyers. Pressure's on!
- MannySilvers

This narrative that Hischier had one great season and was an unknown before that is something that gets constructed usually by North Americans (sometimes even NA scouts) who see the North American prospect a lot more than they have seen the European prospect in question. I'll paste what I said about that in Eklund's thread:

Just to chime in as I still like to occasionally read Hockeybuzz as a guilty pleasure and the draft topic is right up my alley.

It's not like Hischier came out of nowhere. This is a kid I (and Mik who is also a scout) have watched for years, before with HockeyProspect, this year on our own as we started our own European scouting service (if you'd like to give it a look, here's a link www.draftineurope.blogspo...-blue-dispatch-draft.html to our free draft guide preview) specifically so Euro-based prospects like Hischier get the coverage they deserve.

Mik has seen Hischier A LOT going back years, I've also had the pleasure of seeing Nico live before he left for NA as well. Based on those viewings we already placed him as the top 2017 prospect in Europe back in September (before his regular season started in Halifax) ahead of Pettersson and Liljegren. So you can imagine we think the chances of Nico being a Yakupov are very low.
- ikn

The Yakupov part was there in the write-up just as a response to the guy who compared him to Yakupov.

I'm with HischiER.

They're not both can't miss but I think neither of them will flat out bust; I simply love guys who drive the net and play fearless hockey, and I fell in love with this guy watching the World Juniors.

He'll need to fill out before he's NHL potential, but yes, I could see 70-80 point seasons from this guy (edit: and possibly even bigger playoffs... that's when your fearlessness is priceless). He's the one I always wanted since February.

Patrick had a sports hernia, a broken collarbone and a groin pull.. his knees shoulders and most importantly head are fine. I think the injury angle is way over blown
- Dan Petriw

He has had shoulder problems

I'm with HischiER.

They're not both can't miss but I think neither of them will flat out bust; I simply love guys who drive the net and play fearless hockey, and I fell in love with this guy watching the World Juniors.

He'll need to fill out before he's NHL potential, but yes, I could see 70-80 point seasons from this guy. He's the one I always wanted since February.
- archromat

I like that he wears 18 ( sometimes )

He has had shoulder problems
- VT001

Nugent Hopkins played a full 82 this year so stranger things have happened

I think the devils already had their fair share of Swedish 1st round picks that turned into busts and taking a chance on a player who is only in the conversation because of Patrick's injurie this year I'll go with Patrick we need a big top line center and he can be it and having Zacha Already gives us a dangerous 1-2 punch down the middle

Could always move Zacha over to wing when McLeod is ready leaving Zajac as our third line center

This narrative that Hischier had one great season and was an unknown before that is something that gets constructed usually by North Americans (sometimes even NA scouts) who see the North American prospect a lot more than they have seen the European prospect in question. I'll paste what I said about that in Eklund's thread:

The Yakupov part was there in the write-up just as a response to the guy who compared him to Yakupov.
- ikn

Interesting on Hischier's scouting history. I'm definitely not saying he's going to be a Yakupov. I feel like there have been a few drafts now where there was a clear #1 guy for awhile, and then in the few months before the draft all the sudden there is a debate. Hall/Seguin was a good example of that. Even last year a few people tried to make it seem like Laine would maybe go #1. Maybe it actually is closer this year. My guess is the Devils will take Patrick but I'm glad I don't have the burden of that decision.

Still good reviews and I never stated it to be un obvious I posted it with no comment. I think we can't lose with either guy but us Patrick guys are just as skeptical about Nico being a flash in the pan and burning out just as fast as he lit up as you Nico guys are that Nolan is somehow going to fall apart. both guys are almost equal and both have their concerns, if Nico didn't he would of been the consensus number 1 last year and not in dead heat tie with one month left on a kid who only played 20 games this year and still put up over a ppg.
- blizzzard

I honestly don't think so. I've been hoping for Nico for a long time now and just as one can say that if Nolan was healthy all year, he would be the consensus #1; it can also be argued that if Nico came over a year earlier and got more exposure that he would be. Cause it definitely is an uphill battle for a European to be noticed then a north American player. So yes, Nolan has been ranked #1 for longer but it's been an uphill battle for Nico.

Just looking at Patrick this year, I am weary of selecting him. He had a down year. Now was it a fluke year? Was it cause he never recovered post injury? Or was it that he lost a lot of his support (pronorov/quenneville)? It can't be said one way or another.

I just look at Hischier and see his speed, skill, and growth. The teams he has been on are weaker teams than Patrick but still Nico produced at a higher rate; whether you compare this year's numbers to Patrick's 2016-17 or 2015-16 campaigns (which I think is fair considerin Partick is older then Hischier). Plus, as things progressed he just got better and better. And that's just looking at the numbers. Don't get me wrong, they are both great; but given the facts which I can go on and on about, I'll take Nico over Nolan.

I think the devils already had their fair share of Swedish 1st round picks that turned into busts and taking a chance on a player who is only in the conversation because of Patrick's injurie this year I'll go with Patrick we need a big top line center and he can be it and having Zacha Already gives us a dangerous 1-2 punch down the middle

Could always move Zacha over to wing when McLeod is ready leaving Zajac as our third line center
- Devils314

...Sweden and Switzerland are not the same country...

...Sweden and Switzerland are not the same country...
- IrischesGlueck

I thought it was pronounced Nico "Hee-Shey" and he was from Quebec.

...Sweden and Switzerland are not the same country...
- IrischesGlueck

My mistake I thought hischier was Swedish

I honestly don't think so. I've been hoping for Nico for a long time now and just as one can say that if Nolan was healthy all year, he would be the consensus #1; it can also be argued that if Nico came over a year earlier and got more exposure that he would be. Cause it definitely is an uphill battle for a European to be noticed then a north American player. So yes, Nolan has been ranked #1 for longer but it's been an uphill battle for Nico.

Just looking at Patrick this year, I am weary of selecting him. He had a down year. Now was it a fluke year? Was it cause he never recovered post injury? Or was it that he lost a lot of his support (pronorov/quenneville)? It can't be said one way or another.

I just look at Hischier and see his speed, skill, and growth. The teams he has been on are weaker teams than Patrick but still Nico produced at a higher rate; whether you compare this year's numbers to Patrick's 2016-17 or 2015-16 campaigns (which I think is fair considerin Partick is older then Hischier). Plus, as things progressed he just got better and better. And that's just looking at the numbers. Don't get me wrong, they are both great; but given the facts which I can go on and on about, I'll take Nico over Nolan.
- IrischesGlueck

It might be harder but I think the scouts do a good job of picking up on who is going to be who long before jr into the midget years and you start to see that with more and more very high picks being taken out of other leagues then just the CHL lots of players are coming from all different leagues and I am talking about inside of Canada. They have been able to gauge a few players high skill level despite them playing in lesser leagues against lesser competition. The BCHL had how many guys last year ? and Now this Makar kid is coming from some league called the AJHL but is still ranked so highly ? they know and I just don't see how any thing changed talent wise. So I don't buy the whole no one knew who he was until now thing Bobby Mack or someone would have brought him up as a sleeper or something ! lol It would just be a lot nicer if we could have them both !

Todd Cordell: In-depth thoughts on Nico and Nolan
- Todd.Cordell

Patrick is probably better away from the puck, but his injury history is a legit concern.