Hischier talks Devils' playoff hopes in Q&A with NHL.com

In NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Sitting Down with …" we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. In this special offseason edition, we feature New Jersey Devils forward Nico Hischier.

PARIS -- Nico Hischier looks at the flurry of moves the New Jersey Devils made this offseason and sees it as fuel for his optimistic nature.
New Jersey added two experienced veterans in forward Ondrej Palat, who signed a five-year, $30 million contract ($6 million average annual value) on July 14, and defenseman Brendan Smith, who signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract ($1.1 million AAV) on July 13. They also acquired goalie Vitek Vanecek in a trade with the Washington Capitals on July 8, forward Erik Haula in a trade with the Boston Bruins on July 13, and defenseman John Marino from the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 16.
"Just looking at the roster right now, we feel way more comfortable. We feel confident," Hischier said. "Those guys coming in definitely can help us with their game style, with their experience, and that's something we need. We did this this summer, and that's why the excitement is there to get back to work and see where we're at."
Hischier acknowledged that missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past four seasons has been difficult mentally, particularly last season, when the Devils (27-46-9) were unable to overcome a slew of injuries and finished 37 points behind the Washington Capitals for the second wild card into the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
But the 23-year-old said he believes New Jersey can make the jump this season and return to the postseason for the first time since his rookie season in 2017-18.
"I do believe. I think we can surprise," he said. "I do believe we have a good team, and I'm excited if we stay all healthy to see how dangerous we can be."
NHL.com caught up with Hischier at the NHL European Player Media Tour on Aug. 24. The forward, who set NHL career highs in goals (21), assists (39) and points (60) in 70 games last season, discussed the importance of adding Palat, his growth as a player and captain, forward Jack Hughes' progress as a player, and more.
What can Palat, who has played 10 seasons in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning, bring to your locker room?
"Exactly that, his winning experience. He's been playing in Tampa for a while and winning two Cups, last year in the Final, he knows what it takes. We're a young group and we've got to see what he does. He definitely can help us out a lot because if you can take things out from his experience, the best case is we're going to be that Tampa team at some point. That's definitely our goal and definitely a good guy to have on our side now."
What can he bring to the Devils on the ice?
"That's the other thing as well with him. He plays the right way. He plays hard and he's tough to play against and he can score and be offensively productive. That's all you basically can ask from a teammate, to be an impact player, to have the grit and be really competitive."
How challenging has it been missing the playoffs the past four seasons?
"Yeah, really challenging and I put a lot of pressure on myself as well. I want to help the team to get there, and I know I can't do it by myself. But what we're building in Jersey, I'm excited for it. We've got great guys in there and I'm excited for the new guys coming in and just looking forward to getting going again. I learned also it's not easy to make those playoffs. My first year, you go with the flow, you don't really think too much. And the last four years showed me, no, it's definitely not easy to win consistently in that league."
How do you think you played last season?
"Personally, I'm happy about my year. I was able to do what I tried to do for the team. But on the other hand, just hearing that, me saying, 'I'm happy with my year,' it doesn't really matter for me. I would be happier if we would've made the playoffs. So it's always hard to say I'm happy with a year when you're not making the playoffs."
What have your learned in your two seasons as captain (Hischier was the youngest active captain in the NHL at 22 when named in 2021)?
"Like I just said, I learned that winning consistently in that League is not easy. Making those playoffs, 16 teams out of 32, it's not easy, and that's definitely what I learned. For me, I don't want to change too much. I want to be the same guy I used to be. I want to lead my way and I just want to play the right way and always be a team-first guy."
Is your way to lead with your play?
"Exactly. I want to lead by example. Definitely if something needs to be said, I'm not afraid to speak up and say it. I'm always trying to be honest to myself, honest to my teammates, and I feel that's how you improve a team. But I always want to be that guy that sees first that I messed up or that guy that wants to make a difference at a certain time of a game just by leading by example."
Hughes missed time with injuries last season, but he appeared to take a big step last season, his third in the NHL, with 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) in 49 games. How has he grown as a player?
"Really good for us. We obviously know what kind of player Jack is. He's a very talented player. He plays with grit as well. He's really good with his stick. He can lift some sticks sneakily and get some pucks back. It's obviously what they expect him to be and seeing him doing what they expect, it's not easy. I know that and I'm really happy for him that he made those steps and I'm pretty sure we'll see more really good stuff from Jack because he's still growing, he's still getting better. So I'm excited even to see him next year."
The Devils added another promising young player by selecting defenseman Simon Nemec with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Having gone through it yourself as the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, how can you help him in his first NHL training camp?
"Just be there for him on and off the ice. Playing-wise, he has the tools. I think it's just mentally a little different the first year than what you've been used to in your draft year, so it's just all that all around off the ice. Obviously it's on the ice as well, but you got drafted at that position because you've got the tools and you've just got to understand how you can blend out everything and focus, so you can bring what you've got. I'll definitely try to help him as much as I can and have an open ear with anything."
What do the Devils have to do to get back to the playoffs this season?
"Be more consistent. I think that's the main thing. Understand that an 82-game season can't always be perfect and it's about when you lose two or three games, that you go back on a five-game winning streak or something like that. Don't slip out of the race. So that's the main thing. Understand that, learn that and be more consistent by winning."