Captain Nico returns
Fresh off a 12-week injury and COVID-19 layoff, Nico returned to NHL action last weekend. He did so as the new captain of the New Jersey Devils.
Nico made his season debut on Saturday at home vs. the Buffalo Sabres. Just minutes prior, the Devils announced Nico’s selection as the 12th captain in franchise history. At 22 years and 47 days, Nico is the youngest captain in the entire NHL and just the third Swiss-born player to receive this honor, following Mark Streit (NY Islanders) and Roman Josi (Nashville Predators).
On the ice, Nico wasn’t able to make a deciding impact in his first pair of NHL games in nearly 11 months. He was kept off the score sheet in both games vs. Buffalo (2-3) and Washington (3-4), recording one shot on goal in each game, while winning 57% of his faceoffs and twice finishing the game with an even plus-minus.
After an off day on Monday, the Devils’ schedule will intensify, as the team will play four times through Sunday, starting with a Tuesday night rematch vs. the Sabres at the Rock (7 PM ET).