Hischier became the highest-drafted Switzerland-born player in NHL history when the New Jersey Devils selected him No. 1 in the 2017 NHL Draft.

He was No. 2 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters eligible for the 2017 draft. Center Nolan Patrick of Brandon in the Western Hockey League was No. 1 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, and was chosen No. 2 by the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Devils didn't ease Hischier into the NHL; he began his career as the second-line center and served as first-line center for much of his rookie season.

He scored his first two NHL goals in a 5-4 win at the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 19, 2017.

Hischier has elite skill and hockey sense combined with competitiveness that allows him to be effective in any style of game in all three zones. As a rookie in Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2016-17, he was awarded Canadian Hockey League rookie of the year, the Michael Bossy Trophy as the best professional prospect, and Michel Bergeron Trophy as offensive rookie of the year in his first season in North America after scoring 86 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in 57 games. He had one goal in 15 games for Bern in National League A, Switzerland's top division, in 2015-16.

Hischier opened some eyes at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in Montreal when he scored seven points (four goals, three assists) in five games for Switzerland. He scored twice in a 3-2 loss against the United States in the quarterfinal round.

United States national junior team coach Bob Motzko considered Hischier the best player his team faced on the way to winning a gold medal.

"We tried all four lines against him and I thought he was playing every shift because every time he got out there the ice was tilted," Motzko said.