Several New Jersey Devils players are currently in Milan, Italy, gearing up for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. While Jack Hughes stands out as the most likely to contend for gold, other Devils members remain in contention with their national teams. Among these, Switzerland’s performance could be a notable surprise despite facing tough competition from Canada and Czechia in their group. Much of Switzerland’s success hinges on the play of Nico Hischier, who is not only a key leader but also the assistant captain of his team.
Hischier’s season with the Devils has had its ups and downs, fueled partly by injuries that some observers believe have affected his consistency. However, he has not missed a single game this season, joining just four other Devils players with perfect attendance so far. Heading into the Olympics, Hischier benefits from nearly a week’s rest, which is expected to recharge his capacity to lead Switzerland.
Examining the Unexpected Linemates for Switzerland’s Top Center
During Switzerland’s Olympic practices, Nico Hischier has naturally been positioned as the center of the top line, but the players joining him have raised some eyebrows. Unlike his usual NHL teammate Timo Meier, who now surprisingly skates on the Swiss third line alongside Pius Suter and Philipp Kurashev, Hischier’s linemates defy NHL norms.
Hischier’s current line features left winger Kevin Fiala and right winger Calvin Thurkauf. Fiala is widely regarded as the strongest left wing on the Swiss team. Thurkauf, in contrast, is a lesser-known player who spent the last five years with Lugano in the Swiss league. Despite limited NHL experience—just three games in his career—Thurkauf has managed 15 goals in 43 games this season, projecting to nearly 30 goals over a full 82-game season.
Given the available talent, some question why the coaching staff, led by head coach Patrick Fischer, has chosen Thurkauf over other NHL-experienced wingers such as Nino Niederreiter or Meier for Hischier’s line. Both Niederreiter and Meier bring valuable experience and goal-scoring ability, which could better complement Hischier’s playmaking.
Potential Ideal Line Combinations for Optimizing Switzerland’s Attack
Kevin Fiala’s placement alongside Hischier makes immediate sense, given Fiala’s skill and scoring potential. Meanwhile, pairing Hischier with Nino Niederreiter would also create a balanced unit, combining offensive power with a reliable two-way game. Although this version of Niederreiter differs somewhat from his time with the Hurricanes, where he showed consistent effectiveness, his presence would bolster the line’s overall performance.
Theoretically, an optimal Swiss top line would be Fiala-Hischier-Niederreiter, with Hischier and Fiala as the primary offensive contributors and Niederreiter providing both scoring depth and defensive support. This setup could maximize Switzerland’s chances against strong opponents in their group.
Meanwhile, Timo Meier’s assignment to the third line could allow him to focus on bringing grit and additional scoring depth when Hischier is off the ice. This strategy may help Meier regain confidence and recapture his peak form as the season progresses.
As the Olympic tournament unfolds, the Swiss team’s line formations—and particularly Hischier’s linemates—will be closely watched to see if they can produce the unexpected results needed to advance against powerhouse teams like Canada and Czechia.
