Devils tab Hischier with No. 1 pick in 2017 NHL draft
By Tom Musick, The Sports Xchange
CHICAGO — The New Jersey Devils selected center Nico Hischier with the first pick of the 2017 NHL draft on Friday night.
Hischier, an 18-year-old from Switzerland, racked up 86 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in 57 games last season with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was named the league’s rookie of the year.
The selection marked the Devils’ first No. 1 overall draft pick in franchise history. New Jersey general manager Ray Shero and his front-office staff opted for Hischier over Nolan Patrick, another playmaking 18-year-old center who was considered for the top pick.
The Philadelphia Flyers happily grabbed Patrick with the next selection. The 6-foot-2, 199-pound Winnipeg native had 46 points (20 goals, 26 goals) in 33 games last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.
Miro Heiskanen of Finland was the first defenseman off the board when the Dallas Stars selected him at No. 3.
Defenseman Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) and center Elias Petterson (Vancouver Canucks) round out the top five picks.
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