Hynes Recalls Early Flashes of Hischier's Selke-Caliber Play | FEATURE

The first thing John Hynes knew about Nico Hischier was that he was an outstanding hockey talent.
After he was drafted first overall in 2017, Hynes immediately recognized the Devils organization wasn't just getting an extraordinary hockey player. But first and foremost, they were getting an extraordinary human being.
"Right off the bat, you just realize how great of an upbringing he had, quality people," Hynes said in an exclusive interview. "And you know, that was, still today, I still remember, like you had the feeling like, you got to a player that's come from a great upbringing, but you could tell how much of a quality person he was."
Then came hockey.
"What jumped out was his agility, his speed, and his competitiveness," Hynes explained, "But at the same time, it was the style of his that he played, he's a really good offensive player, but his defensive conscience, his understanding as a centerman, understanding and being able to handle the responsibilities (...) for a young guy, his game was pretty complete."
Complete enough at age 18 and 19 for John Hynes to say this of Nico, on Oct. 19, 2019:
"I think in the future, he's going to be a Selke Award winner."
Fast forward, years later and now as coach of the Nashville Predators, his opinion remains unchanged, if not more affirmed.
When asked if Hischier should be in the Selke nomination conversation now, he gives a one-word answer:
"Yes."
When Hischier broke into the league at 18 years old, although still fresh, Hynes could already see it.
"I think it's his care level which he played with," Hynes said in an exclusive interview when asked about his 2019 comment. "He was so driven, he didn't take a backseat as a player."

Not every NHL draft has a Connor McDavid at the top, some have a more subtle unicorn, like Nico.
"It was fortunate that Nico was in that draft at that time," Hynes began, "when you pick that high in the draft, a first overall pick someone, that you know, you're going to want in your organization long term, and I think the quality of player and the quality of person was, that's exactly the type of guy that you want. Picking Nico was tremendous for the Devils organization."
Hynes had a unique perspective that the rest of us do not. He spent time with Hischier during the summer of 2017 after he was selected, he spent time with him in New Jersey and he was Hischier's first coach at the professional level. From the beginning, Hynes could see this was a special player. Nico didn't need any protecting, he was immediately carving out his space in the league. In that first season alone, Hynes could see the Selke-like player Hischier was already becoming.
"We got into his first training camp, and it was like, you saw it in him, but okay, let's bring him along the right way. And his play will dictate where he plays. And we're thinking like, let's start him out on the second line, third line center. And, you know, lo and behold, I think it was maybe 10 games into the year, he was centering (the first line) pretty quick.
"And I think when you look at that at 19, the matchups that you have to go against, the ice time, the responsibility, that was, I think, foreshadowing (...) what he was going to mean to the Devils team and organization moving forward."
In Hischier's first year, Hynes recalls being able to rely on Hischier centering Taylor Hall in his Hart Trophy-winning season.
Hynes is not surprised in the least to see the player that Hischier has developed into, whether about already being in his third year as the team captain or how his game has steadily refined his game. Hynes says he was confident in making the statement back in 2019, at the start of Nico's third NHL season, because of all he knew about watching Nico from the get-go. There was no hesitation, and there still isn't, because as Hynes explains, Nico cares.
"Nico wants to be able to drive offense, but he also has that same care level and drive to play without the puck," Hynes reflected. "And I think when you see a young player, you know, he's a centerman, he can kill penalties, he can play on the powerplay, he's got the responsibility, and I think the mind, to be able to play against top players.
"You can see that at a young age," Hynes elaborated, "and kind of when I made that statement, then was knowing the character of the player and the potential. And how he was going about his business. It was just going to, to me, it was more of a matter of time and maturity for him to continue to climb that ladder."
Now with the Predators, Hynes has to gameplan against Hischier, which, if opponents this season, in particular, have come to notice, is no easy task. Without revealing his entire game plan against the Devils, Hynes does warn his Predator players about what they'll be up against when the Devils captain is on the ice.
"A tenacious competitor. He doesn't take time off. Like he's gonna compete in the faceoff circle, he's gonna play a 200-foot game. He's going to be in your face," he said of his warnings to his team, "And on the other part of it is he's a guy that he's got great speed and he can turn plays (...) if you're matched up against Hischier it's going to be a hard game to play."
Before Hynes was Hischier's head coach, Andre Tourigny coached Hischier with the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior League. Tourigny is now the head coach for the Arizona Coyotes and most recently was quoted as saying: "I said he would someday win the Selke and be capt of an NHL team. People laughed at me. I'm not sure they're laughing now because it's just a matter of time."
If you ask Hischier's current head coach, that time is now.
"I actually think he should be a candidate this year," Lindy Ruff said in front of a throng of media in Toronto on Nov. 17, "If he can stay healthy, his two-way game is right up with a (Patrice) Bergeron and the likes of those types of players."
Those who have coached Hischier from the beginning know it best. He has arrived to where he was always meant to be, where he has always worked to be.
"I think what makes him unique," Hynes said, "Nico wants to do the right things that help a team win, regardless if he may have to make some sacrifices in his game at times, for the betterment of the team. Whether it's the role or the game situation, the time, and score, he's willing to do that. And I think that is a special quality about him. It's sometimes hard to find guys that are that driven, but also that team first."
For Hynes, those sacrifices Hischier has always made, none of that is for show.
"The way that he played, the way that he carried himself, I think just, he's all substance," Hynes reflected.
That's Nico.
"That's why, I think really getting to know him, just how genuine he was, and even his family, how humble they were," he recalls. "How grateful they were, but even when you first met them, he just loves hockey. He was so excited to be a Devil. He wants to do the right things. It's who he is."
It's high praise and also well deserved. Hischier has unlocked his offensive game along with his 200-foot game, which he has always been recognized for.
Seeing the way Hischier has developed into the player he is today, Hynes can't help but feel proud, adding "that's why we coach."
"Particularly for a guy like Nico," he asserted, "To just see him continue to be able to progress and become the captain of the team and be a foundational guy for the Devils, now the way that his team is playing and he's a big part of it, it's fun because you know of some of the trials and tribulations and things that he had to go through, to see him come out the other side the way he is, you're proud of the kid.
"You're just really, really happy for him to be able to do what he's doing."