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Hischier appreciates Patrick's reaction to how top 2 picks played out

David Banks / USA Today Sports

Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick appear to have developed a feeling of mutual respect through the NHL Entry Draft process.

After months of speculation as to who would be selected first overall, it was Hischier who became the newest member of the New Jersey Devils, while Nolan Patrick fell to the Philadelphia Flyers with the second pick.

Patrick had been viewed as the consensus top prospect at the beginning of last season, but certainly wasn't holding a grudge against Hischier, according to the Swiss forward, who looks forward to facing off against Patrick on the ice.

"It would be good to play against Nolan in the future," Hischier said Friday, per Adam Kimelman of NHL.com. "He's a great guy. When I was picked, he congratulated me and was a really classy guy. I appreciated that. Not a lot of guys would do that."

For his part, Patrick seems fine with Philly.

"I didn't know where I was going to go, but I kind of had a feeling I was going to end up in Philly, and that's a place I'd be really excited if I had a chance to go there," Patrick said.

Both players are on Metropolitan Division teams, meaning they could be seeing a lot of each other.

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