When Devils Captain Nico Hischier Talks You Listen

It is rare when Nico Hischier speaks loudly to the media. However, the New Jersey Devils captain had enough after his team’s loss this past Saturday night at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Disappointing, I’m embarrassed a bit, to be honest,” Hischier said, “We got outworked, outplayed in such a big game. The way we performed is embarrassing.”

Hischier was unhappy with how his team performed, and the frustration and disappointment on his face were evident. During the season, Hischier expresses himself best through his facial expressions. However, he had enough after the Devils lost 6-3 to the Lightning on Saturday night.

Even though the Devils trail the Philadelphia Flyers by five points in the standings for the final spot in the Metro Division, it feels like the playoffs are an eternity away. A winning streak coming out of the mandatory week before the All-Star Break will have the Devils back in the playoffs, but the captain of the Devils challenged himself and his teammates to be better moving forward.

“Hope everybody rests up a bit and thinks about what team they want to be a part of coming down the stretch, Hischier said. “If we want to be a playoff team, we have to figure something out.”

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The Devils have been playing behind the eight-ball since the start of the season. It does not help when Jack Hughes has been out for most of the season dealing with injuries. Throw in the injuries on defence to Dougie Hamilton (LTIR), Jonas Siegenthaler, and Brendan Smith, but the Devils are talented enough to get by with the guys they have in the lineup.

However, you cannot win games on talent alone. Talent only brings you so far. And the Devils have to start competing more when the puck drops. They can’t give away points to teams lower than they are in the standings. The Devils have lost to the Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, and San Jose Sharks this season. Those eight points could ultimately cost the Devils a playoff spot.

And while everyone can point to the goaltending, the compete level must also be better. Nico Hischier was not afraid to mention what head coach Lindy Ruff had stated all season long: that the Devils had been a “soft” team to play against.

“Starts with compete. Like all the things we talked about, Hischier said. “Everybody got to start looking in the mirror and ask themselves including me, how are you get out of it? Start with yourself and then come out of this as a group.” 

The Devils continue to have issues defensively. But the biggest issue is the Devils are not showing any emotion this season when they take the ice. It is evident, especially as they continue to have their backs up against the wall fighting for a playoff spot.

That has to change moving forward. Nico Hischier told his teammates that it was time to start playing with an edge.

“It’s just all around not a good game for us. We need the emotion on the bench. We were dead…I think we have to play with a little bit of emotion, Hischier continued. “Be pissed off. We were soft tonight in front of our net. That’s where they scored the goals.”

The lack of physical presence for the Devils is not a secret. You saw it last year when a team plays physically against the Devils; they just do not have an answer. It has carried over into this season as well. Their opponents know they are an easy team to play against because of their lack of physicality.

It is something that General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has to address at the NHL Trade Deadline and in the off-season as well.

If the Devils do not it could be an early off-season for a team that had a lot of expectations entering the season.