TORONTO — Halifax Mooseheads General Manager Cam Russell was scouting hockey players at an under-18 tournament two years ago when he got an unusual tip. An agent told him to keep an eye on Nico Hischier, a forward. That the agent did not represent Hischier spoke volumes to Russell.

So Halifax selected Hischier with the sixth overall pick of the 2016 Canadian Hockey League import draft.

In his first season with the Mooseheads, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Hischier led all rookies with 38 goals and 86 points and was 10th in league scoring. He had three goals and four assists in six playoff games as Halifax lost in the first round.

“He came here with such a concern on learning the defensive side of the game and being good defensively,” Russell said. “He’s just such a well-rounded kid.