The Big Show: Nico Hischier On Saturday afternoon, New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/players/new-jersey-devils-utica-comets-spengler-cup-colton-white-nhl-ahl] captain Nico Hischier [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/switzerland-travel-diaries-behind-the-scenes-with-devils-nico-hischier] will skate onto the ice for his 500th career NHL game. He enters the game with 392 career points, including 158 goals. Over the past eight seasons, he has evolved into one of the most important players in the Devils organization, making a nightly impact in all areas of the ice. After a recent team practice, The Hockey News sat down with Hischier, who prefers to avoid the spotlight, for a mini Q&A. During the interview, he opened up about his love for the game, career trajectory, and more. The Hockey News: Lisa Kudrow has publicly spoken about how it took a few years to settle into her Friends character, Phoebe Buffay. How long did it take you to get comfortable and understand what it takes to be an NHLer, day in and day out? Nico Hischier: (I am) still learning to this day. I am still on it. You never stop learning. One year (that everything clicked) was when we set the new record here for wins. That was a fun year overall, and I feel that is where I played my best hockey, but to (answer) your question, I am still learning. You never want to stand still. THN: Is there a particular moment in your career that you would love to show to your younger self to say this is going to be you in the future? Hischier: Maybe when I played my first game as a captain. *Editor's Note*: I asked Hischier who their opponent was for that game, and after some thought, he came up with the Buffalo Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/] but said he wasn't sure. After receiving a minor homework assignment from the captain, I can confirm he is correct. He was named captain on Feb. 20, 2021, and made his season debut that afternoon against Buffalo. THN: Was there ever a moment in your career when you started to lose your love for the game? Hischier: Yes and no. Obviously, there are (moments) when you are losing a lot and not making the playoffs; it is not fun. But on the other hand, good or bad, at the end of the day, I tell myself it is sports, and one team has to lose. I still love the game. There are moments where it is frustrating, and there are some games that are more fun and some that are not fun at all, but that is the sport. I think that part of a passion is that love-hate relationship. THN: What has hockey given you since you were drafted in 2017? Hischier: A lot, pretty much everything. I am lucky enough to call it my job, to be a professional, and to do this day in and day out. Obviously, that gives me a lot, but as a person as well. I think growing up and even now, you learn a lot of things. For young (kids) sports are good for character development. I think it teaches you a lot of lessons: respect, resiliency, having a will, discipline, all those things come together. I think you learn that on a team, and hockey is a great culture in which we are taught those things. THN: At this point, does hockey feel like a job to you, or is it still your passion that you have had since you were a kid? Hischier: It is a good question. I would say it is a little bit of both. I think it is like a normal job (in the respect) that some days are harder to come in here, work out, skate, or play a game. Sometimes, you are really tired, but you still have to show up and perform. There are good and bad days, like in any other job, but at the end of the day, we are lucky enough that this is our passion, and we are able to do something like this for our job. Having that in your head always helps on the tough days. I am happy I am here, healthy, and able to play in such a beautiful league that a lot of people would love to be in. Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/] for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/players/new-jersey-devils-jesper-bratt-alexander-holtz-nico-hischier-andy-sward] EXCLUSIVE: Q&A With MSG Networks Host & Analyst Rachel Herzog [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/exclusive-q-a-with-msg-networks-host-analyst-rachel-herzog-new-jersey-devils] Hischier’s Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He’s Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/features/hischiers-manager-patrick-fischer-hes-driven-to-succeed-but-not-easily-satisfied]' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/features/hischiers-manager-patrick-fischer-hes-driven-to-succeed-but-not-easily-satisfied]
