Anticipation Surrounding Flyers-Devils Meeting with Potential Nolan-Nico Matchup

By Jeff Quake, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

There has been Auston Matthews vs. Patrick Laine, Connor McDavid vs. Jack Eichel. Taylor Hall vs. Tyler Seguin. This past year’s draft showed that it was Nico Hischier vs. Nolan Patrick for the first overall pick.

Hischier was drafted by the New Jersey Devils and Patrick went to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Hischier became the highest-drafted Swiss-born player of all time, while Patrick was rated the No. 1 skater in North America. Both players are expected to make their respected team’s roster, setting the stage for another anticipated meeting of two top prospects on the ice during the upcoming regular season.

For New Jersey, there is a little bit more of a rush to have Hischier penciled into the opening night roster due to Travis Zajac being sidelined 4-6 months after having successful surgery for a torn left pectoral. This opens the door wide open for Hischier as the Devils will certainly need all of the offensive power they can get. They have struggled in recent years in scoring but besides Zajac, their top offensive threats include Hall, Kyle Palmieri and Adam Henrique.

If Patrick makes the roster for Philadelphia, it gives them a great chance to fight for a playoff spot once more. He will join a roster that consists of Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and even the possibility of having another young hot shot in Oskar Lindblom making the team.

Despite losing Brayden Schenn and his power-play scoring to the St. Louis Blues, the Flyers will be able to fend for themselves and manage to make it work with the youth infusion.

Jan. 13, 2018 marks the first time that the Flyers and Devils will face one another during the upcoming season. Should both prospects make their respective rosters, it could also mark the first time that Hischier and Patrick will play against each other as well. The first meeting is on the road for the Flyers, but hometown fans won't have to wait long for the Hischier-Patrick show to come to Philadelphia. The two teams meet again a week later at Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 20.

Leading up to the 2017 NHL Draft, the players were asked about their friendship, who would be selected with the first overall pick, and if they talked about it in their spare time.

"No," Hischier said. "He’s a great guy. I got to know him a little better now. He would be happy for me; I would be happy for him."

Patrick's response was similar.

"No, not at all," the Flyers pick said. "We’ve gotten to know each other for the last two weeks here. We’ve been rooming together here. He’s an awesome guy. He’s obviously ranked first for a reason. Everyone makes it seem like we’re competing against each other. But I’m hoping for the best for him."

Whether or not there is a competition between the two players, both teams are looking forward to their top picks' play in the upcoming season.

For the Flyers, they will be looking for some redemption against the Devils, as New Jersey took four out of the five meetings last season.