Todd Cordell: In-depth thoughts on Nico and Nolan

I see Patrick as someone you want to build your team around, like a toews or kopitar. And hischier as someone that is complimentary like a panarin or pastrnak.

I think Patrick compliments Hall much better than Hischier would.

They both seem like solid players but i think Nolan may be best suited for our needs.
Nico looks very good at getting the puck to open spaces and creating chances which would be nice if we had guys who could actually finish.

I think Patrick compliments Hall much better than Hischier would.
- willschulme

He would compliment kovalchuk too

They both seem like solid players but i think Nolan may be best suited for our needs.
Nico looks very good at getting the puck to open spaces and creating chances which would be nice if we had guys who could actually finish.
- FAZOOL

In a universe where we don't trade Larsson, I would be on team Hischier.

Gotta go Patrick. But either would do fine. Patrick is a big bodied top line centerman that plays both sides of the puck. I think you build around that much more than Hischier.

Gotta go Patrick. But either would do fine. Patrick is a big bodied top line centerman that plays both sides of the puck. I think you build around that much more than Hischier.
- SnipeDevil6

Hischier is a non-big bodied centerman that plays both sides of the puck.

I see Patrick as someone you want to build your team around, like a toews or kopitar. And hischier as someone that is complimentary like a panarin or pastrnak.
- shvingter88

Agreed. Give him another year to play since he missed a majority of the season as well.

Hischier is a non-big bodied centerman that plays both sides of the puck.
- Todd.Cordell

I agree. But I just look at Patrick's size and see that as a slight advantage. But, both would look great in a Devils jersey. Hopefully complimenting Hall for years to come.

I've gone back and forth but right now I think I'd take Hischier. He's the more dynamic player, and I've heard Ehlers is a comparable for him. I'd take that in a heartbeat. Without the injury history to Patrick, I'd probably take him over Hischier. But it's not just a recent thing. He's had several groin injuries that have caused him to miss significant time, he's had the Hernia surgery, and he ended the season with a knee injury (a couple broken clavicles too but Idc about that). I've also read in multiple places that Hischier is a 200 ft player, and before the lottery that wasn't the impression I got, especially when you hear Drouin is a comparable player to him.

I go Patrick. I don't care about whatever minor problems he might have in the skating department, the fact of the matter is he is effective and that is all that really matters he is effective despite his flaws. Jagr is probably the slowest player in the NHL but if you are big, strong and can really use that strength and size to guard and protect the puck then it wont really matter if he isn't flying around there 100 miles an hour. Great players always control and set the pace of games and I think people forget that as you don't need to be the fastest if you move the puck around well and know where to go and be. You need to have players who can pick the puck up and just slow the game down when things are getting wild and I think despite him not being the flash on skates he is very capable of doing those things. I honestly wish we could take them both and find out who is the best but we can't and Patrick is the one of the two that I don't want to be wrong about the most and let the Flyers have a future beast at least with Hischnier he can maybe be pushed off his game lol

I agree. But I just look at Patrick's size and see that as a slight advantage. But, both would look great in a Devils jersey. Hopefully complimenting Hall for years to come.
- SnipeDevil6

Hopefully good enough to carry his own line. Giving us a Kane-Toews, Crosby-Malkin, Bergeron-Kreicji, etc. thing going on.

I think Patrick is the better player but not by much. Wouldn't be too concerned over the injuries.

Anyway, Hextall can leave the decision on our pick to an orangutan or Paul Holmgren and I'd be very confident we'd come back with the stud left on the board

I've gone back and forth but right now I think I'd take Hischier. He's the more dynamic player, and I've heard Ehlers is a comparable for him. I'd take that in a heartbeat. Without the injury history to Patrick, I'd probably take him over Hischier. But it's not just a recent thing. He's had several groin injuries that have caused him to miss significant time, he's had the Hernia surgery, and he ended the season with a knee injury (a couple broken clavicles too but Idc about that). I've also read in multiple places that Hischier is a 200 ft player, and before the lottery that wasn't the impression I got, especially when you hear Drouin is a comparable player to him.
- CaptCrankypants

So you'd take ehlers over kopitar or toews?

I've gone back and forth but right now I think I'd take Hischier. He's the more dynamic player, and I've heard Ehlers is a comparable for him. I'd take that in a heartbeat. Without the injury history to Patrick, I'd probably take him over Hischier. But it's not just a recent thing. He's had several groin injuries that have caused him to miss significant time, he's had the Hernia surgery, and he ended the season with a knee injury (a couple broken clavicles too but Idc about that). I've also read in multiple places that Hischier is a 200 ft player, and before the lottery that wasn't the impression I got, especially when you hear Drouin is a comparable player to him.
- CaptCrankypants

It's not that I don't believe in injuries and what not but the oonly reason anyone is looking into it because he missed a huge chunk of his draft year. Lots of kids that are now men in the NHL suffered numerous undocumented injuries coming up through juniors and well before but no one cares because its when you're body is best able to heal itself. Injuries are also easier to have or occur during growing periods which is likely a little bit of what happened with a tall lengthy kid like him. I think he can and likely will go all next season with out any serious injuries and these injuries are injuries that can be healed 100% its not like he has concussion issues or a rebuilt knee or bum wrists or a mutated foot like Forsberg lol

I've gone back and forth but right now I think I'd take Hischier. He's the more dynamic player, and I've heard Ehlers is a comparable for him. I'd take that in a heartbeat. Without the injury history to Patrick, I'd probably take him over Hischier. But it's not just a recent thing. He's had several groin injuries that have caused him to miss significant time, he's had the Hernia surgery, and he ended the season with a knee injury (a couple broken clavicles too but Idc about that). I've also read in multiple places that Hischier is a 200 ft player, and before the lottery that wasn't the impression I got, especially when you hear Drouin is a comparable player to him.
- CaptCrankypants

A hernia is absolutely not a concern. The knee injury is a little unfortunate but I think the only reason to not pick him would be a concussion.

Patrick is the better player to build a team around, but he hashye chronic injury issues. That's really all it comes down to.

I think Patrick is the better player but not by much. Wouldn't be too concerned over the injuries.

Anyway, Hextall can leave the decision on our pick to an orangutan or Paul Holmgren and I'd be very confident we'd come back with the stud left on the board
- Just5

It would be hilarious if you took Liljegren

Patrick all the way.

This was the year to win the lottery. I'd rather be the NJD of 2017 than the TML of 2016 or Buffalo of 2015. Conner McDavid is a shade better than Patrick will be so that's an easy pick that year.

Either way I don't think we paid anyone off to get this pick so lets take it and run.

Patrick all the way.

This was the year to win the lottery. I'd rather be the NJD of 2017 than the TML of 2016 or Buffalo of 2015. Conner McDavid is a shade better than Patrick will be so that's an easy pick that year.

Either way I don't think we paid anyone off to get this pick so lets take it and run.
- jackzack87

Naw it was no one in NJ's doing but I wouldn't be shocked if Lou was a little embarrassed and did us a solid by pulling out the bettman nudes one last time for us

Patrick all the way.

This was the year to win the lottery. I'd rather be the NJD of 2017 than the TML of 2016 or Buffalo of 2015. Conner McDavid is a shade better than Patrick will be so that's an easy pick that year.

Either way I don't think we paid anyone off to get this pick so lets take it and run.
- jackzack87

Ok thanks for stopping by

Well theyre no Jake Geuntzel but you gotta start somewhere I guess.

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.

Hischier is 100% the guy I want. We have a guy like Patrick in Zacha (same style, I am not saying they are the same skill level). Hischier brings creativity and speed that we need. Plus, I will say Patrick's injuries give me pause; I don't want another JJ, a player constantly on IR. But back to point, Hischier will humiliate players while Patrick will wear them down; we need excitement here!

I see it as Chicago has Kane-Toews, penguins have crosby-malkin, Edmonton has McDavid-draisaitl, and we can have Zacha-Hischier