Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part VI

[devilsblood]

Nemec has been unimaginably bad this year but it’s still gone a bit too far in here. Marco Rossi had 1 point in 19 games in his age 21 season. He is now looking like a possible star. This isn’t really cope considering Nemec was quite respectable last season and not a soul was predicting he’d bust after his rookie campaign.

There are only a handful of guys that have proven anything in Nemec’s draft class, and one of them was picked ahead of him. Not opposed to trading him, but I really don’t need to see the psychoanalysis stuff.

Didn't Rossi have a bad case of Covid that took him out of action for a year?

Even if we take the Covid factor off the table the question with Nemec is, is he in the Rossi lane where this is just a blip season, or is he more like Holtz where this is a sign that he can't keep up, whether physically or mentally, at the NHL level

 

[MartyOwns]

View attachment 1005353

 

[JimEIV]

I think people are also making assumptions with the whole "entitled" thing.

I don't think it's assumptions as much as listening to what Nemec has had to say...not a lot of "I need to be better" but a lot of whiney bitchy attitude.

Maybe that is being interpreted wrong but it's hard to interpret it any other way.



"It's a business, but on the other hand, right now I can't remember any number two draft pick that went to the farm for a third year...It's hard to say, it's still too early to request a trade. If this situation continues, it will need to be addressed, but for now, this is where things stand.". - Simon Nemec

Devils Top Prospect Angling Towards Trade Request Following Frustrations

The second-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft hasn't started his NHL career as planned.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Clam Jensen]

Didn't Rossi have a bad case of Covid that took him out of action for a year?

Even if we take the Covid factor off the table the question with Nemec is, is he in the Rossi lane where this is just a blip season, or is he more like Holtz where this is a sign that he can't keep up, whether physically or mentally, at the NHL level

Yea he had some sort of serious health issue that sidelined him indefinitely.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Didn't Rossi have a bad case of Covid that took him out of action for a year?

Even if we take the Covid factor off the table the question with Nemec is, is he in the Rossi lane where this is just a blip season, or is he more like Holtz where this is a sign that he can't keep up, whether physically or mentally, at the NHL level

So add an extra year for the Covid excuse. This is Nemec’s age 20 season. He already had a successful age 19 season. Rossi was still finding his footing in his age 21 season. Not to mention dman traditionally take longer.

Regardless, best not to get bogged down by a single example. There are many many dozens to choose from.

 

[Japam]

Relax, guys. Nemec broke the model of that one stats guy on Twitter. He's going to be a star.

 

[Billdo]

I hope we do move Nemec this offseason. Wanted to at the deadline but oh well.

Not interested to see if he can turn it around, would rather cut the losses and get something quality back vs Holtz

What type of quality do you think Nemec would bring after this year? It's the same as Holtz. The best we can hope for is a reclamation project with a similar career trajectory or an overpaid underperforming vet as a cap dump.

 

[Triumph]

Nemec had had 4 straight years of massive improvement, he went from being a - player on a team that missed the playoffs in Slovakia to the second leading playoff scorer on a team that lost in the Finals, came to Utica and was immediately impressive, then made the NHL and was impressive there. This is a lost season for him and he just needs to figure out what he wants out of an NHL career - if he is content with where he's at, he'll get better with more experience and have a 10 year career as a mid-pairing or below D who is constantly moving teams. If he wants more, he can be a top pairing D, he has the intelligence to do that, he just has to work harder at it.

 

[Triumph]

What type of quality do you think Nemec would bring after this year? It's the same as Holtz. The best we can hope for is a reclamation project with a similar career trajectory or an overpaid underperforming vet as a cap dump.

Nemec has way, way more value than Holtz, we don't need to do this. Nemec is a year younger than Holtz and has a much better NHL track record.

 

[tailfins]

I don't think it's assumptions as much as listening to what Nemec has had to say...not a lot of "I need to be better" but a lot of whiney bitchy attitude.

Maybe that is being interpreted wrong but it's hard to interpret it any other way.

"It's a business, but on the other hand, right now I can't remember any number two draft pick that went to the farm for a third year...It's hard to say, it's still too early to request a trade. If this situation continues, it will need to be addressed, but for now, this is where things stand.". - Simon Nemec

Devils Top Prospect Angling Towards Trade Request Following Frustrations

The second-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft hasn't started his NHL career as planned.

www.newsweek.com

IMO, the big inflection point for Nemec is: what situation is best for him to learn?

It's a reasonable argument that a player like him needs the ice time / situational opportunities to make mistakes and grow from them. If he were on the Sharks, Bruins or even the Penguins, he'd likely be getting opportunities to make a mistake, then go back out and correct the mistake. I can see how he and his agent might feel that's the best way for him to progress.

Meanwhile, the Devils are presenting him an alternative approach: high leverage minutes, but when he plays, he needs to execute "the right way" or risk being benched or out of the line-up for a while. His opportunity to learn is through watching, and he'll have to force coaches to keep him in the lineup through his play.

It's possible to thrive in the Devils type of environment. Look at Dallas with Thomas Harley and Wyatt Johnston. Or even Lian Bichsel. But, it's a different path that you might see with Korchinski in Chicago for instance.

Maybe it would have been best for Nemec to go the college route (like Rinzel). Spend 2-3 years with a competitive program, be around other potential stars (so realize you're not that big a fish), mature a bit. Then come to the NHL a little more fully formed (similar to Rinzel or Faber). But, that's water under the bridge now.

Next step for the Devils and Nemec is to share what they think is best for his development, then determine if there's a match here in NJ or if he needs to go somewhere else. I still think that teams like San Jose, Seattle, or Nashville could see a lot of value in a kid like Nemec.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

I don't think it's assumptions as much as listening to what Nemec has had to say...not a lot of "I need to be better" but a lot of whiney bitchy attitude.

Maybe that is being interpreted wrong but it's hard to interpret it any other way.

he also has resting Langenbrunner face. Doesn't help

 

[theoptimist]

Where is the team’s Bluesky account?

 

[Andre Palot]

he also has resting Langenbrunner face. Doesn't help

At least it isn't Frankenstein Holik face.

 

[devsfan8]

Nemec can end up being Ty Smith part 2. He also can end up winning a Norris Trophy. It is entirely too early to call him a bust or even imply he has reached his ceiling.

At the same time, just based on having 6 Dmen signed/under team control for the next 3 to 4 seasons, he is also our #1 trade chip this summer for scoring help.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Where is the team’s Bluesky account?

It’s annoying they don’t have one. The only one is fan run who reposts the Devils Twitter. You’d think the team would at least set up a bot or however that works. I deactivated my Twitter and made a Bluesky. The hockey coverage is really rough there.

 

[thebeernerd]

Where is the team’s Bluesky account?

Do they even have one? The Canes and Capitals do, I know that much. All I know about is the unofficial one that mirrors the team's TwitterX account.

Please let me know if you find out confirmation that they have one.

It’s annoying they don’t have one. The only one is fan run who reposts the Devils Twitter. You’d think the team would at least set up a bot or however that works. I deactivated my Twitter and made a Bluesky. The hockey coverage is really rough there.

Ah, that's a shame. There's a fair amount of media people that migrated over there. Kristen Flannery and Bill Spaulding mirror up their feeds to there, and so does Greg Wyshynski. It's found a niche but there's a ways to go.

 

[NJDevils17]

I think not being concerned about Nemec is way too head in the sand. The WC injury really hurt and maybe this actually is a lost year of development but he’s been largely the worst dman on the team when in and we’re trending downward. Perid.

His value is closer to Jiricek than Holtz right now even if it’s down — it can be worse or lower, if you can parlay it into assets to upgrade elsewhere, I’m all for it.

The other thing that behooves me is signing Kovacevic. Where exactly does Nemec fit in now? What about Casey?

 

[britdevil]

he also has resting Langenbrunner face. Doesn't help

Leave Jamie alone! Leave him alone! I'm serious!

 

[NJDevs26]

I think people are also making assumptions with the whole "entitled" thing.

Maybe but it’s not that big a leap considering what he’s admitted in public about not asking for a trade ‘yet’

 

[NJDevs26]

I don't think it's assumptions as much as listening to what Nemec has had to say...not a lot of "I need to be better" but a lot of whiney bitchy attitude.

Maybe that is being interpreted wrong but it's hard to interpret it any other way.



"It's a business, but on the other hand, right now I can't remember any number two draft pick that went to the farm for a third year...It's hard to say, it's still too early to request a trade. If this situation continues, it will need to be addressed, but for now, this is where things stand.". - Simon Nemec

Devils Top Prospect Angling Towards Trade Request Following Frustrations

The second-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft hasn't started his NHL career as planned.

www.newsweek.com

That part definitely sounds like it was agent fed lol

 

[Billdo]

Nemec has way, way more value than Holtz, we don't need to do this. Nemec is a year younger than Holtz and has a much better NHL track record.

Does he though?

 

[Dylan9z9]

At least it isn't Frankenstein Holik face.

Not only did Holik look like Frankenstein he also sounded like him when he talked

 

[JrFischer54]

I hope we do move Nemec this offseason. Wanted to at the deadline but oh well.

Not interested to see if he can turn it around, would rather cut the losses and get something quality back vs Holtz

noway team shouldn't move him at all not at the low point. i much rather keep him here and hope he becomes at minimum a bottom pairing guy then trade away for a 3rd round pick and watch him take the next step elsewhere

 

[Triumph]

Does he though?

Yes. Holtz was a soft minute scorer for one season, before that he couldn't break in, failing to do so in both his D+2 and his D+3. Nemec was a top 4 D who played in all situations (some of them to his detriment, as he was awful on the PP). Even though he's fallen apart at the NHL level, he's still had a decent season in Utica.

Holtz's upside was also considerably lower by the time we traded him. The hope for Vegas was to get a guy who could slot in as a pure scorer on one of their top 3 lines, but the ship had sailed on Holtz ever being a play driver or anything like that. If Nemec is dealt, it is still with the hope that he can be an all-situations defender. I'm still skeptical of him being reliable on the power play - he will have to work on his reads there for sure, and he doesn't have any high-end tools for it - but he still has most of what a team would want in a defenseman.

 

[theoptimist]

It’s annoying they don’t have one. The only one is fan run who reposts the Devils Twitter. You’d think the team would at least set up a bot or however that works. I deactivated my Twitter and made a Bluesky. The hockey coverage is really rough there.

You’re right - Devils hockey coverage is awful on Bluesky. Luckily, Alex C. has an account.