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We're just five games into the season and I'm already receiving negative comments about Nico Hischier ranging from "he's not creating a lot of offense" to "he looks overwhelmed right now."
While it's easy to glance at his counting totals (two points in five games) and come away a little unimpressed, especially given the ludicrous expectations that come with being chosen 1st overall, I don't think there is anything wrong with Hischier.
Not only has he been dynamic with the puck on his stick, and already embarrassed established NHL players, but he's also posted very encouraging underlying numbers.
Through five games, Hischier is tied with Taylor Hall for the team lead in 5v5 scoring chances. Hischier has accomplished this despite ranking 12th on the roster in ice time during that game state.
If we use rate stats to adjust for ice time, Hischier ranks 1st on the team averaging 13.16 scoring chances per 60 minutes.
That is far and away the most on the roster as Hall (9.66/60), Jesper Bratt (9.51) and Miles Wood (8.11) are the only other players to average even eight per 60 minutes.
If we look league-wide, Hischier's 13.16 chances/60 ranks him 27th in the NHL and ahead of notables like Steven Stamkos, Viktor Arvidsson, Matt Duchene, William Nylander, Evgeni Malkin, Sean Monahan, and Nolan Patrick(!), among many others.
The sample sizes we're dealing with aren't large, obviously, but I have a hard time criticizing an 18-year-old rookie for a lack of offense when he's generating chances at a higher clip than some of the league's brightest stars.
I get people want him to pile up the points and dominate on a nightly basis, but that's a lot to ask of anyone, let alone a 175-pound 18-year-old who is still adjusting to the NHL game.
Hischier is playing just fine and it's only a matter of time before his counting numbers reflect that.
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