Nico Hischier
The poised Swiss center who became the bedrock and captain of the New Jersey Devils, embodying a two-way excellence rarely seen in such a young player.
Born 1999 (age 27)·Swiss ice hockey player·Birthday: January 4·Generation Z
Biography
Nico Hischier's path to the NHL captaincy was paved not with loud boasts, but with a quiet, comprehensive mastery of the game. Leaving his native Switzerland as a teenager, he dominated the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, winning rookie of the year honors and positioning himself as the consensus top prospect. The New Jersey Devils selected him first overall in 2017, making him the first Swiss player ever to achieve that distinction. His transition to the NHL was seamless, defined by a responsible, intelligent two-way game that made coaches and veterans take notice. This maturity led to him being named the youngest captain in Devils history in 2022, a testament to his leadership by example. Hischier's game, blending offensive skill with defensive diligence, has established him as the foundational piece for a resurgent franchise.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Nico was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nico Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Nico's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the first Swiss player to be picked #1.
- Named the youngest captain in New Jersey Devils franchise history in 2022.
- Won the QMJHL Michel Brière Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 2017.
Did You Know?
He grew up playing for SC Bern's youth system in Switzerland.
Hischier is fluent in German, French, and English.
He represented Switzerland at the IIHF World Championships while still a teenager.
“Being captain means you put the team first, every single day.”
