Nico Hischier quickly becoming face of the Devils

Jim Cerny

Nico Hischier quickly becoming face of the Devils image

If you have been in the New York/New Jersey area the past three days, there is a very good chance you caught a glimpse of Nico Hischier.

Selected first overall by the Devils in the 2017 NHL Draft on Friday, Hischier and his family were whisked out of Chicago on Saturday for a whirlwind spin of events in his new stomping grounds.

 

 

The amiable 18-year-old Swiss center, who the Devils count on to help turn the franchise's fortunes around after five straight seasons out of the playoffs, already has had a sandwich named after him at a local deli, stepped out onto the field at iconic Yankee Stadium, toured Manhattan and made a visit to the New York Stock Exchange.

MORE: Winners, losers from the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago

 After touching down in New Jersey, Hischier spent Saturday touring the Prudential Center, dining in trendy Hoboken and attending a Red Bulls' soccer match in nearby Harrison.

On Sunday, Hischier met with Yankees manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman, who is a big-time Devils fan, and had a video board welcome at Yankee Stadium. He dined with the Devils' all-time leading scorer, Patrick Elias, at the popular Cookshop restaurant, not far from Madison Square Garden, where Hischier soon will begin his rivalry with the hometown Rangers. A tour of NBC studios, including a photo op by the main stage where Saturday Night Live broadcasts, followed, as did an interview with NBC's Sports Final program.

 

 

Up early on Monday, Hischier appeared on the Boomer and Carton morning radio program on WFAN, the popular all-sports radio station in New York. From there, a photo op at NASDAQ in downtown Manhattan before crossing back over the Hudson River into New Jersey, where a meeting with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka awaited.

 

 

Newark's famed Hobby's Deli then unveiled it's Nico # 1 sandwich, which features grilled chicken, a red "jersey" tomato and, of course, Swiss cheese.

It's clear this is no longer Lou Lamoriello's team. The ultra-conservative former general manager and team president never believed in promoting individual players, even when charismatic types like Martin Brodeur were leading the Devils to three Stanley Cup titles.

MORE: Chicago draft not first time Hischier slipped into a Devils sweater

Times, though, are a-changing in New Jersey.

And it's clear that Nico Hischier is the new face of the Devils.

 

 

Jim Cerny