Introduction
I was in Las Vegas this past weekend, which means I didn’t learn about Nico Hischier becoming the New Jersey Devils’ new captain until I woke up at the crack for dawn the next day. Of course, being that Vegas is in another time zone, I woke up at 11:00 AM PST.
This while the Devils were already in a two-nothing hole against the Bufalo Sabres. Still, as soon as I heard the news I jumped on a table and re-enacted the end of the Robin Williams classic “Dead Poet’s Society”: “OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN!”
There are not many Devils’ fans who do not like the decision, but some do think Nico Hischier should have gotten the captainship earlier. Some ask, “why didn’t they do it last year after they traded Andy Greene?” Others, “why didn’t they do it when he signed his contract extension?” There’s a few answers to that, which is why the Devils named him the new captain at precisely the right time.
Look at Me, I’m the Captain Now
A few weeks ago, when I interviewed to former New Jersey Devils captain Bryce Salvador about who the next captain should be, he thought Nico Hischier was a good and obvious choice. Salvador did think Kyle Palmieri would be a good captain. This if Palmieri was re-signed and was a member of the team beyond this season.
One thing Bryce and I spoke about was young players being thrown into the captaincy. Sidney Crosby was named captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins in his third season. Other high draft picks such as Gabriel Landeskog and Connor McDavid similarly became young captains. Is there really such thing as being too young to be a captain? There might not be a true answer. However, in the end, it is most likely safer to not rush a player into an important position.
Are you Saying McDavid and Crosby are Better than Hischier?
Yes, and no. As Bryce pointed out, having a generational player like Crosby or McDavid makes the transition easier. Here’s an idea I have as well: Hischier also had the added challenge of having to get used to North America at the same age Crosby and McDavid assumed their captaincies. Doesn’t seem like much, but having to overcome a language barrier is hard enough. Imagine having to do it while getting accustomed to NHL hockey and leading your team in the locker room.
The Team also already had a Captain
One thing Bryce was sure to point out was that Hischier came to a team that already had a captain. This in former Devil Andy Greene. Greene still had three-years left on his contract when Hischier arrived. So, there was no immediate vacancy foreshadowed. The vacancy only opened up after Andy Greene was traded to the New York Islanders mid-way through last season.
Well, Why Didn’t He Become Captain Immediately?
The answer is simple: the team didn’t need a captain immediately. Remember, last season they were pretty much certain to miss the playoffs. Naming a captain for a lame duck season was low of the team’s list of priorities.
Let’s say hypothetically the Devils made the playoffs, they could have named a captain for the sake of having one throughout the post season. There are historical instances of a team making it all the way to a Stanley Cup final without a captain. The Vegas Golden Knights did it in 2018, and so did the New Yok Rangers, unfortunately, in 2014.
Why didn’t They Name him Captain Before this Season?
Hischier was out with an injury and didn’t return until now. It made sense for them to make him captain after he was finally back. More importantly, head coach Lindy Ruff wasn’t able to see Hischier before the season began during training camp because of his injury.
My guess is they pretty much decided on Hischier being the next captain, but wanted to see him first. With the delay in his return, came the delay in naming him captain.
If You Have Time Use It
Perhaps another reason Hischier wasn’t named captain last year was the state of the roster. The team wasn’t very good, and you knew changes would be made. There would be changes in player personnel, but behind the bench as well. Remember, if a captain was named to replace Greene last year, then interim head coach Alain Nasreddine would have played heavily into that decision.
As for the roster turnover, the main purpose of a captain is a locker room leader. Yes, that might not be the official NHL definition, but we all know that’s pretty much what teams base their decision off of. The Devils’ roster looks a lot different then when Nico first came to Newark It even looks a lot different from last year’s. To be a captain you have to know your team and you have to have the respect of your team.
That kind of thing can’t be rushed. Having Nico Hischier there learning, listening, and growing was the right way to do this. Even if some Devils’ fans were impatient about it, the team handled this the right way. Now he’s “oh captain, my captain.”