By Jacob Messing

After a forgettable 2016-17 season, the New Jersey Devils won the draft lottery and selected Nico Hischier first overall as their future top line center.

With the recent news that Travis Zajac would miss the next four to six months after undergoing surgery, the future is now for the 18-year-old Hischier.

While the Swiss product may not be the generational talent of past drafts -- see Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews -- the Devils clearly believed Hischier was the best prospect of his class and have high hopes for the former Halifax Mooseheads star this season.

“Nico can certainly score, but he also has great playmaking abilities, and the ability to make other players better," Devils general manager Ray Shero told the team’s official website. "He was so impressive at world juniors (in late December) and U-18s (in April), but especially with what he was able to do at Halifax in helping them make the playoffs as a young team and really driving that team and how he was able to make a difference.”

Paul Castron, Devils director of amateur scouting, echoed Schero’s thoughts.

“I think he's one of those players that makes others around him better,” Castron said. “He will fit in because of the personality he has and the passion he has, and just his love for the game. I think all of that is going to be infectious and he's gonna be a real building block for our team."

Although the Devils probably envisioned integrating Hischier over time, Zajac’s injury changes things. The 32-year-old had been the Devils’ No. 1 man in the middle for the past few seasons as Patrik Elias’ age has caught up to him. Hischier has talent, skills, and potential but no experience. Management will have to weigh those merits against the drawbacks of playing a teenager with zero NHL credentials.

The Competition

Pavel Zacha is another promising talent on New Jersey's roster. (USA TODAY Sports)

Zajac and Adam Henrique are the team’s top returning centers in regard to ice time, point production, and faceoff percentage.

Henrique has left New Jersey fans wanting more and appeared ready to give it to them with a 30-goal, 50-point season in 2015-16 that was inflated by a shooting percentage of 20.1 percent. At 27, Henrique can sustain his consistent 40-50 point seasons but is unlikely to continue to grow his game.

Then there’s Pavel Zacha, the sixth-overall pick of the loaded 2015 draft class. Zacha played in the final game of the 2015-16 season, recording two assists, three shots, and a plus-4 rating. The 20-year-old gave fans a glimpse of his potential, but the Czech Republic native struggled in his first full season.

In 70 games, Zacha recorded eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points to go along with a minus-17 rating and 83 shots on goal. Zacha’s ceiling is still very high, and his second half of the season was certainly better than his first.

Head coach John Hynes has certainly been impressed by Zacha’s summer.

"That's a huge commitment that he's showing his teammates and this organization that he wants to make an impact next year. Even in this camp, you can see," Hynes told NJ.com. "Watching him around here, off the ice, in certain types of meetings, he looks like a more confident individual."

However, as the top pick in 2017, Hischier is likely to have a longer leash than Zacha heading into October. Zacha will be better suited on the second or third line to help him continue to develop against lesser talent and learn the game.

"A Special Talent"

Rick Kowalsky, who coaches the Devils’ affiliate in Binghamton, raved about Hischier in training.

“There's no question he's a special talent," Kowalsky told the Devils’ team website. "The speed at which he does everything is what really stands out to me. This year's group is by far the best-skilled group we've had at a development camp."

Hischier’s impressive first season in North America saw him score 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games for the Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He played his way into the top of his draft class, surpassing projected top pick Nolan Patrick and potential steal Timothy Liljegren, each of whom dealt with injuries during last season.

With the Zajac injury, Hischier’s playmaking, scoring prowess, and high ceiling make him the best option on the top line with strong linemates in Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri.

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Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @JMessing23