Nico Hischier

Grade: B+

2025-26 Review

Nico Hischier played all 82 games for the first time since his rookie season in 2025-26. The Devils’ captain led the team in goals (28) and had the third-most points (66) on the team, trailing Jack Hughes (77) and Jesper Bratt (71). While doing so, he finished second on the team in ice time per night among forwards at 20:43.

Arguably, the most impressive thing from Hischier’s 2025-26 season was his face-off success. He won a staggering 1,008 face-offs posting a 55.8% success rate from the dot. The total wins set a career-high and also led the NHL. Since 2005-06, only 21 other players had posted a season with more face-off wins.

The possession metrics were pretty strong for Hischier as well. He ranked sixth in Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and second in expected goals-for percentage (xGF) at five-on-five among all his teammates to play at least four games this season. He did this while leading the team in defensive zone starts (250). His defensive zone start rate per 60 minutes ranked 35th among 412 forwards to play at least 400 minutes of five-on-five ice time. Given that, it is even more impressive Hischier was able to put up the possession metrics he did.

As far as on-ice impacts via Evolving Hockey’s goals above replacement (GAR) metrics go, Hischier did not grade out as well as he usually does. His overall on-ice impacts ranked in the league’s 75th percentile; offensively he was in the 74th and defensively in the league’s 39th.

According to just GAR, Hischier was the Devils’ 10th-most valuable player. On the flip side of that, his expected GAR (xGAR) metrics were much stronger. According to xGAR, Hischier was the Devils second-most valuable player. What this tells you is he was due for a lot better results than he got.

Further investigation into the GAR and xGAR metrics overall show that Hischier struggled on the penalty kill. His GAR shorthanded defense rating of -1.0 placed him at 790th among 906 skaters this season. Outside of that, he was above replacement level in both GAR and xGAR at five-on-five across the board as well as on the power play, where he really excelled.

Overall, it was a more-than-fine season for the captain. The possession metrics were good, he excelled on the face-off dot, and the GAR metrics showed he was due for some better results than he got.

However, for context, the 75th percentile his overall on-ice impacts ranked was the lowest mark since the 2020-21 season. He was in the league’s 99th percentile last season. He additionally scored at a rate that was the lowest since his 2020-21 season. Given that, he comes short of the “A” range, but a “B-plus” final grade is still a strong figure.

2026-27 Overview

Hischier is entering a contract year as his deal is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season. With that in mind, expect a resolution to Hischier’s situation, in either an extension or trade, sometime this offseason.

Hischier has consistently been one of the better play-driving centers in the league since 2021-22. Although his defensive play may be overrated at times (25th percentile on-ice defensive metrics over the last three years), he constantly is playing the team’s toughest minutes and overall excelling with them. For context, since 2021-22 Hischier’s 342 points ranks 43rd overall and 20th among true centers. Further, his total offensive GAR ranks 59th and xGAR ranks 33rd among 1,327 skaters to play since 2021-22.

Hischier will likely command in excess of $10 million annually for the reasons outlined above. The front office will need to perform an analysis if what Hischier brings, at his projected price tag, is worth more than the trade package they would be able to get for him this offseason. Hischier’s status is one to watch throughout the offseason and is certainly near the top of general manager Sunny Mehta’s most pressing issues.

Note, all statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey.