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Christian Fischer has spent the last two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. This year, he finished as the fifth highest scoring player on the team with 31 goals and 64 points in 66 games for the program. Included in the season he set a USHL record for fastest goal to start a game, scoring in just six seconds. Fischer also added a goal and seven assists for eight points in just seven games, in helping the US to the gold medal at the IIHF U18 World Hockey Championships. He was also part of the U.S. team that won gold at the January 2014 Under 17 World Hockey Challenge. He put up two goals and six points in six games in that tournament. Fischer is committed to play NCAA hockey with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the fall. Should he change his mind, his OHL rights are owned by the Windsor Spitfires. Fisher’s father played NCAA hockey at St. Bonaventure and his older brother also went the college route and is currently playing in Division III for Illinois.
Christian Fischer
Right Wing — shoots Right
Born Apr 15 1997 — Wayne, IL
Height 6.01 — Weight 212 [185 cm/96 kg]
Christian Fischer has very good size, and knows how to use it. He plays a power forward style, driving the net, getting in quickly on the forecheck, and battling for loose pucks along the boards. Fischer has the soft hands to finish in front of the net, but also has a powerful wrist shot and quick release. His one timer is also extremely powerful and effetive. Fischer has good hockey sense and finds the openings in the defence to get his shot off. When playing the cycle game, he protects the puck extremely well, using his body and positioning to shield the puck from defenders. Fischer has decent passing skills, but he isn’t one to often thread the needle through an extremely tight lane to set up a teammate. Instead he finds openings and makes the smart, safe play to keep possession and keep the cycle going in the offerensive zone. He plays a straightforward north-south game, and don’t expect Fischer to show off a wide variety of dangles or make too many highlight reel type of plays, but he is effective when playing that power game.
Christian Fischer is a very good skater. He has a long and powerful stride. This generates good speed, but it is his quickness and acceleration that really put him on another level. Fischer also has the strength and balance to fight through checks, to win battles on the boards, and to take punishment but still make his way to the front of the net. His agility and edgework is decent but could even be a little bit better.
Fischer plays his gritty, physical game in all three zones. He does not take a shift off, and backchecks effectively, supporting the defence down low. He also works to be well positioned, taking away passing and shooting lanes. Fischer is often used as a penalty killer for the US NTDP squad. His two-way game is already at an advanced stage for a player his age.
Christian Fischer has the potential to be a reliable two-way top six winger on an NHL team if he can reach his maximum potential. He plays a style that is going to make him a coaches favorite, as he can be used in any situation, whether it be to produce offense; or to have a lock down defensive role later in the game. Fischer’s style of game is reminiscent of Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings. However this is a stylistic comparison only, and not one based on talent.
Below are some highlight videos of Christian Fischer in action.
Check back later this weekend for the #57 prospect on my NHL Draft Board.
