You don’t usually expect the first and second overall players in an entry draft to both make the post-season the following season after they’re drafted, but thanks to the NHL’s draft lottery and a little bit of luck, here we are.
Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick were taken first and second overall by the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers, respectively, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Both players had solid rookie campaigns in their first season of professional hockey. For Hischier, he potted 20 goals and 32 assists for 52 points in 82 games, and finished second on the Devils in scoring only behind Taylor Hall.
Patrick’s season wasn’t as productive, but was still impressive given that he didn’t play as often as Hishcier did and was farther down the Flyers depth chart because of their strong group of forwards. In 73 games, the right-shot centre tallied 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 73 games.
Both players won’t get much consideration for the rookie of the year, but that’s probably okay with them considering that they’re currently playing playoff hockey.
On Saturday night, Hischier opened up the scoring for New Jersey in their 5-3 Game 2 loss to the Lightning. One night earlier, Patrick added an insurance marker for the Flyers’ fourth goal of the night.
Hischier and Patrick made history by both scoring, as they became just the fourth set of 1st and 2nd overall picks to score a playoff goal in the following season.
That’s twice now for the Devils that they’ve had one of their players achieve this unique stat. Brendan Shanahan potted 3 points in 12 playoff games during the 1987-88 season.
Three of the first four teams that selected in order at last year’s draft all made the playoffs, with the Dallas Stars, who missed the playoffs by three points, being the only exception.
(h/t NHL)
