Proposal: Devils need a goal scorer.

[britdevil]

And he's not playing well in Utica either. Nemec has hit a major developmental roadblock this season. Maybe he pushes thru it and maybe he doesn't. He turns 21 in a month. It's pretty odd he'd backslide so hard at this age. This is where you'd typically see a jump, not a massive regression.

Nemec was injured while playing for Slovakia, right before the start of the season and then lost his job to a rock solid Kovacevic. No way he was supplanting Hamilton or Pesce either.

He is only 20 (21 soon) with another year left on his ELC. There's just no way the Devils give up on him so soon.

 

[britdevil]

His last three seasons he scored 51, 31 and 39 goals. Yes he is struggling on a team that is struggling. But the guy has 121 goals over the last three seasons.

Nemec is now in the minors and playing his worst hockey of his career post NHL draft. He was a much better minor league hockey player two years ago than he is today. He was a much better NHL player a year ago.

To say Nemec has taken a huge step backwards in development is still an understatement. His regression is one of the biggest I've seen for a guy that's about to turn 21 and looked legit post draft.

I understand the need not to give up on him. But his NHL prospects are definitely in doubt. Right now.. Nemec sucks.

If we're playing this game, why would the Devils give up a talented blue chip prospect for a guy that sucks right now?

Nemec has his whole career in front of him, Kreider might be cooked.

 

[Forge]

His last three seasons he scored 51, 31 and 39 goals. Yes he is struggling on a team that is struggling. But the guy has 121 goals over the last three seasons.

Nemec is now in the minors and playing his worst hockey of his career post NHL draft. He was a much better minor league hockey player two years ago than he is today. He was a much better NHL player a year ago.

To say Nemec has taken a huge step backwards in development is still an understatement. His regression is one of the biggest I've seen for a guy that's about to turn 21 and looked legit post draft.

I understand the need not to give up on him. But his NHL prospects are definitely in doubt. Right now.. Nemec sucks.

I'm just almost never giving up a 20 year old, former top 2 pick for someone who will be 34 years old before the 24-25 season is over. That's before consider he's having a bad year and has 2 more years left which could potentially just be a grenade.

I mean, He has a higher upside than someone like Jason Zucker, but for this year I'll just give up the second for Zucker and look to move Nemec in a more appropriate package. Better asset management to me.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Krieder for Nemec + your worst contract?

Nemec = Bobby Orr?

Right now... You should probably hope Nemec can reclaim his expectation of being a top 4 defender on an NHL team.

His NHL play was downright dreadful this season before he was shipped off to the minor leagues. Nemec didn't take just one step back this season. He turned around and ran backwards for a while.

And he's not playing well in Utica either. Nemec has hit a major developmental roadblock this season. Maybe he pushes thru it and maybe he doesn't. He turns 21 in a month. It's pretty odd he'd backslide so hard at this age. This is where you'd typically see a jump, not a massive regression.

Was Bobby Orr ever dreadful? Your comparison seems insane today.

His last three seasons he scored 51, 31 and 39 goals. Yes he is struggling on a team that is struggling. But the guy has 121 goals over the last three seasons.

Nemec is now in the minors and playing his worst hockey of his career post NHL draft. He was a much better minor league hockey player two years ago than he is today. He was a much better NHL player a year ago.

To say Nemec has taken a huge step backwards in development is still an understatement. His regression is one of the biggest I've seen for a guy that's about to turn 21 and looked legit post draft.

I understand the need not to give up on him. But his NHL prospects are definitely in doubt. Right now.. Nemec sucks.

HF in a nutshell. Make a terrible trade offer and then go on and say "WELL YEAH THAT GUY ISNT THAT GOOD ANYWAYS"

hilarious stuff.

I wouldn't take Chris Kreider for free.

 

[seabass45]

Islander fans will understand the pain Devils endured after Lou very soon.

Are you familiar with Islanders fans at all?

 

[dgibb10]

McLeod for Palat + a 2nd in 2025

Sold

 

[Leafshater67]

You’re right, cap wouldn’t work, and Cozens is having a rough year - especially at his current hit while Nemec, although less proven and currently having some growing pains after a great rookie year, has another year on his ELC after this. That said, Cozens is the exact type of player I would trade Nemec for.

It’s a long shot but maybe Palat waives his NMC. I doubt it though, especially for Buffalo. Too bad about the cap.

It’ll be tough for Nemec to ever develop in New Jersey because there’s well paid, established veterans ahead of him. He’d immediately slide into a top 4 role in Buffalo and they need a right shooting D badly.

 

[Smitty426]

Nemec = Bobby Orr?

Right now... You should probably hope Nemec can reclaim his expectation of being a top 4 defender on an NHL team.

His NHL play was downright dreadful this season before he was shipped off to the minor leagues. Nemec didn't take just one step back this season. He turned around and ran backwards for a while.

And he's not playing well in Utica either. Nemec has hit a major developmental roadblock this season. Maybe he pushes thru it and maybe he doesn't. He turns 21 in a month. It's pretty odd he'd backslide so hard at this age. This is where you'd typically see a jump, not a massive regression.

Was Bobby Orr ever dreadful? Your comparison seems insane today.

The comparison was meant to be an overexageration, glad ya got it! A 18 yr old who was asked to play over his head for 60 games with 19 pts. last year looked fine. Got hurt in International play and came to camp banged up. The summer additions on D far exceeded what thecl GM was looking to do. He thought he had 2 top D and in fact he has 3. Johnny Kovasevic is a top 7 pairing in the league right now! How awful! Nemec isn't 20 yet, im hardly excited to move him for a 33 yr old broken Kreider with an add. Call me crazy!
Back to my post, for us to do that to see Nemec bloom into a very good defender while Kreider starts to slip the other way is dumb as hell, and that was my point!
I say keep the meh 19 yr old 2 OA who played 60 games like he's been in the league already 10 years. We can get a UFA fwd for much less.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Nemec had a ~53% xG as a teenage rookie on a terrible hockey team last year. I am not sure how anyone can say he struggled.

Yes, he wasnt good in his 9 game stint (lol like we can make any judgments on 9 games) in NJ this year, but he also suffered a shoulder injury at the WHC which definitely impacted him.