For the fourth consecutive season, and for the ninth time in the past 10 years, the Devils’ season ends with their regular season finale.
New Jersey, once a perennial Stanley Cup contender under Lou Lamoriello, has won just one postseason game since making a surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. Nico Hischier was a rookie during that last playoff win, a first-round victory against the Lightning before eventually losing in five games. He has spent the rest of his young career trying to get back to the playoffs, but once again fell short in 2021-22.
The 23-year-old captain says that has to change soon.
“A lot of guys still forget that we’re a young team for sure, but at some point, we need to start winning,” Hischier said after Friday’s loss to the Red Wings in Newark, closing out the season. “I obviously didn’t lose trust in the group we have. I think we have a good core. We just have to keep moving forward.”
Hischier took a step forward this past season in the health department, logging 70 games after playing just 79 in the previous two seasons combined. He logged a career-high 21 goals and 39 assists in what was his fifth NHL season, and the former first overall draft pick represents a young core of promising forwards that the Devils hope can take the next step next season.
“Just getting better still,” Hischier said. “I want to improve my game and get stronger. I just want to all around be a better player and help the team even more.”
The lights will be out at the Prudential Center once again this spring, and there is work to be done in the offseason. Youngsters like Hischier, Jack Hughes, Dawson Mercer, and Jesper Bratt give the team reason for hope, but the goaltending remains an issue, and the team allowed the fourth most goals per game in the league this season. There could be a change behind the bench as well if the team decides to move on from Lindy Ruff, but whatever changes lie ahead, Hischier hopes another playoff-less season will be a building block to a brighter future.
“Sometimes it hurts, but at the end, it’s gonna feel even better if you’re going to win at some point,” Hischier said. “Sometimes you have to go through lows to get to the highs.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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