Heschier gets the great praise from the coach – Devils want to shine in the playoffs

With Nico Heschier, Timo Meier and the injured Jonas Siegenthaler, three of the ten Swiss NHL players are together at New Jersey. The devils finally want to cause a sensation in the playoffs.

Since the defeat of the Stanley Cup final in 2012 against the Los Angeles Kings (2: 4), the Devils have only won one series in the playoffs against the New York Rangers (4: 3) two years ago. You missed the decisive championship phase ten times.

As a result of her poor performance, New Jersey was allowed to select the NHL design for the first time in 2017 and 2019. Eight years ago, the organization decided on the Swiss Nico Hischier, who has managed the team as a captain since 2020. With 35 goals in 75 games in the past NHL qualifiers, it was with 35 goals, despite countless NHL qualifiers, despite countless pressure, despite countless pressure, despite countless pressure, despite innumerable pressure, despite innumerable pressure, despite countless pressure, despite countless pressure, despite countless pressure, despite the countless pressure, despite insufficient pressure, it was immense. He recorded a total of 69 points.

High praise from the head coach

It is no coincidence that Sheldon Keefe, the head coach of the Devils, is full of praise for Hischier: “I am impressed by him and his performance this season that, despite all defensive tasks, he has produced so much on the offensive. He received the toughest tasks every evening and is an important anchor for us.”

For Keefe, Hischier is a key factor compared to the previously improved defense of the devil. It would therefore not be a surprise if the Swiss center was given to Frank J. Selke Trophy for the striker with the best defensive game. In the 2022-23 season, he took the 2nd place behind Patrice Bergeron in this vote, which retired last year.

Hischier doesn’t take himself too seriously, that’s not his nature. Jesper Bratt, New Jersey’s top goal scorer this season with 88 points, summarizes the character of the 26-year-old: “He just loves to be with the boys, always wants the best and really take care of everyone.”

Now Heschier wants to take the next step in his third personal playoff appearance in the NHL with the devils. New Jersey played a good but not excellent regular season. From December 29 to January 19, it suffered nine defeats in eleven games. Hischier told the Keystone news agency that they have to understand that they always have to concentrate on their structure, especially if things are not as planned. “Then the games normally drive to your side.”

Now mature

The third highest scorer of the devils in the past qualifications behind Hister and Jack Hughes (27), for whom the season is over in early March, was Timo Meier. The Appenzell striker scored 26 goals. “We act mature and added some important players, especially in defense,” said Meier, describing the differences in the disappointing era.

He saw the reasons for the ups and downs as “We still make too many mistakes if we don’t score goals. We have to accept that the game should sometimes be kept just.” In his more defensive role, he said: “It is part of the pride and the fight for the team. You have to be able to adapt to every role, that makes a good player.” He tries to further improve so that it can be used in all situations.

Siegenthaler “misses a lot”

Jonas Siegenthaler, the third Swiss player of Devils, will not be available for the playoffs. The defender Zurich had an unfortunate fall on the boards on February 4 and had to operate – the nature of his injury was not announced. The absence of Siegenthaler is all the more bitter for the devils because the 27-year-old had previously achieved a strong performance. Keefe said about him: “He bothers many opposing movements, Iron The mistakes of his teammates, is an important penalty killer and plays against the opposing team’s top strikers. We miss him very much.”

It would be all the more important for the devil if the top defender Dougie Hamilton, who has not been in the playoffs since the beginning of March, actually returns. Keefe definitely counts on him. In any case, an exciting round of 16 series against Carolina Hurricanes can be expected. In the four duels of the regular season, the home team prevailed, with the goal difference 13:12 in favor of the hurricanes.

Heschier has his usual pragmatic view of the starting position: “All 16 teams in the playoffs are good. So everything is possible.” The third and last Stanley Cup triumph of the devil was 22 years ago. From the point of view of New Jersey, it would therefore be time to end the drought.