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.

 

[Ruutu Tootoo]

Islanders fans aren’t already experiencing pain? Every season outlook of “best case scenario we get shit on in the first round as an 8 seed” isn’t pain?

You are experiencing our 2013-15 phase, where Lou is still GM, few prospects, and long term contracts.

Adam Larson, Jacob Josefson and Matias Tedenby were our future. Jordin Tootoo was the first line RW in that time. Jagr and Cory Schnieder were the only main attractions. Michael Ryder was a big UFA pick up at the time. Trust me, it gets worse.

 

[VustyVoles]

Panarin, 5+ of his 11.6+ retained, cap hit = 6 per x 2
Berard, elc, electric speed, great shot, but small

for
rights to Silayev
Nemec
acceptable draft pick
acceptable cap dump from you ok


Vats is a great get and solid on paper, but supposedly he is happy there and they w/him.
That will add to cost of acquisition.
Also ANA has done fab rebuild job but few sniper-scorers, so if Vats goes, has to be enuf profit going forward to justify step backwards

Why don’t you throw HughesX2 while you are at it. Panarin has value but not what you think. His backcheck or lack of on Monday was a sight to behold.

 

[bernmeister]

Why don’t you throw HughesX2 while you are at it. Panarin has value but not what you think. His backcheck or lack of on Monday was a sight to behold.

whole team impacted by negative vortex of Zib
don't blame bread for not killing it if others not putting out
anyhoo, even if with reduced checking it is obv to all bread STILL crushes it on scoring, so disagree
on open market competitive bidding prices for him go up not down

 

[amikaro]

It would be nice to add a guy like Vatrano or Tofoli. But as a Devil I'd priotize a 3C over a Top6 W.

Afterwards a Middle6 W. No need for Panarin with Bratt/Meier working with their Cs.

 

[leeroggy]

Would NJ be open to both Nelson and Palms?

Something like the both of them (retained enough to make cap work) for

Diotte
Haula (cap help)
2 of the 3 2025 2nd rounders?

 

[McJedi]

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.

Given where development occurs and he's in key years for it... you're off by a year. Nemec is 20 and turns 21 in a few weeks. Yes he's still young, but he's not that young by NHL standards. There are other players in the NHL his age. Some younger.. that are playing much better hockey than Nemec finds himself at right now.

We'll see where he goes. It's rare to see a player decline so significantly from his age 19 season to his age 20 season as Nemec has this year. Perhaps it's injuries as you note, that's a solid excuse and has derailed guys before that got it back on track.

But it is not an exaggeration to say Nemec's has fallen off dramatically. Because it has fallen off a cliff vs his prior two post draft seasons. It's bizarre and should trouble Devils fans.

It is very possible Kreider is washed, but this guy scored 39 goals last year and 51 in 2021-22. If you got a 40-ish goal scorer for a stalled version of Nemec... it plays to your window right now.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Interesting idea of getting two guys instead of one. The retention would realistically have to be 50% as things currently stand given they are $11m combined and Haula is only $3.15m. Devils roster on PP is one shy at the moment bc they paper moved a defenseman to the AHL for the break and will be bringing one back up very soon I am sure (they are at 6D).

A little easier closer to the deadline - but I can see one or the other as a possible move with one of the 2nds shipped out with Diotte (deep development young dman)

 

[Smitty426]

Would NJ be open to both Nelson and Palms?

Something like the both of them (retained enough to make cap work) for

Diotte
Haula (cap help)
2 of the 3 2025 2nd rounders?

I could see one but not both. Need another guy lower in the lineup. Haula is a playoff fav for us, don't see that. Great ideas though. What do you know about Diotte (I knew nothing btw) that you like him?

 

[My3Sons]

Given where development occurs and he's in key years for it... you're off by a year. Nemec is 20 and turns 21 in a few weeks. Yes he's still young, but he's not that young by NHL standards. There are other players in the NHL his age. Some younger.. that are playing much better hockey than Nemec finds himself at right now.

We'll see where he goes. It's rare to see a player decline so significantly from his age 19 season to his age 20 season as Nemec has this year. Perhaps it's injuries as you note, that's a solid excuse and has derailed guys before that got it back on track.

But it is not an exaggeration to say Nemec's has fallen off dramatically. Because it has fallen off a cliff vs his prior two post draft seasons. It's bizarre and should trouble Devils fans.

It is very possible Kreider is washed, but this guy scored 39 goals last year and 51 in 2021-22. If you got a 40-ish goal scorer for a stalled version of Nemec... it plays to your window right now.

20 is not that young by NHL standards? How many defenders playing in thr NHL right now are younger than he is? You have some from his draft year playing but how many of those are on teams in the top third of NHL standings? Nemec has his warts but age isn’t one of them.

 

[leeroggy]

I could see one but not both. Need another guy lower in the lineup. Haula is a playoff fav for us, don't see that. Great ideas though. What do you know about Diotte (I knew nothing btw) that you like him?

Diotte looks like the prototypical late bloomer. Big, RHD, stats progressing. Also got a 3-year ELC even though he wasn't drafted as far as I can tell. With Nemec and Casey likely ahead of him as RHDs, there is a position of strength for NJ to offer him.

Perhaps we can do Palms retained for Diotte and a 2nd (all 3 2nds are likely pretty low in the 2nd round - NJ, Winnipeg and Edmonton)

Devils Sign Defenseman Mikael Diotte | RELEASE | New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team has signed defenseman Mikael Diotte to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2024-25 season. Diotte will continue this season with Drummondville (QMJHL). The announcement was made by President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald...

www.nhl.com

 

[Smitty426]

Given where development occurs and he's in key years for it... you're off by a year. Nemec is 20 and turns 21 in a few weeks. Yes he's still young, but he's not that young by NHL standards. There are other players in the NHL his age. Some younger.. that are playing much better hockey than Nemec finds himself at right now.

We'll see where he goes. It's rare to see a player decline so significantly from his age 19 season to his age 20 season as Nemec has this year. Perhaps it's injuries as you note, that's a solid excuse and has derailed guys before that got it back on track.

But it is not an exaggeration to say Nemec's has fallen off dramatically. Because it has fallen off a cliff vs his prior two post draft seasons. It's bizarre and should trouble Devils fans.

It is very possible Kreider is washed, but this guy scored 39 goals last year and 51 in 2021-22. If you got a 40-ish goal scorer for a stalled version of Nemec... it plays to your window right now.

Rags wont trade their longest tenured player, who most think will have his jersey retired in rafters (not my words to be clear) to see him potentially win a cup. We don't like each other (and thats what makes it great) Same for us if/when (in my book) Nemec gets back to his 19 yr old ways and plays at MSG shutting down our players, is hard to see.

 

[MVP Zacha]

Krieder for Nemec + your worst contract?

I wouldn't trade a cap dump for Kreider much less include Nemec on that trade.

 

[megajake]

Would NJ be open to both Nelson and Palms?

Something like the both of them (retained enough to make cap work) for

Diotte
Haula (cap help)
2 of the 3 2025 2nd rounders?

Done.

 

[HellOnIce]

I think the Devils are trying to improve on Haula and Mercer as potential 3C options. Someone like Brock Nelson makes a lot of sense. So does ROR and even a Nico Sturm type - who's more a 4c. But Nelson or ROR going into the playoffs as a 3C but someone who can play up with Jack/Jesper if need be, would be quite useful. Beyond that, and any other cap space, I'm not sure how we can afford more than one.

 

[Smitty426]

Diotte looks like the prototypical late bloomer. Big, RHD, stats progressing. Also got a 3-year ELC even though he wasn't drafted as far as I can tell. With Nemec and Casey likely ahead of him as RHDs, there is a position of strength for NJ to offer him.

Perhaps we can do Palms retained for Diotte and a 2nd (all 3 2nds are likely pretty low in the 2nd round - NJ, Winnipeg and Edmonton)

Devils Sign Defenseman Mikael Diotte | RELEASE | New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team has signed defenseman Mikael Diotte to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2024-25 season. Diotte will continue this season with Drummondville (QMJHL). The announcement was made by President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald...

www.nhl.com

I like it and agree, Casey and Nemec are already crowded on the right side

 

[dgibb10]

I think the Devils are trying to improve on Haula and Mercer as potential 3C options. Someone like Brock Nelson makes a lot of sense. So does ROR and even a Nico Sturm type - who's more a 4c. But Nelson or ROR going into the playoffs as a 3C but someone who can play up with Jack/Jesper if need be, would be quite useful. Beyond that, and any other cap space, I'm not sure how we can afford more than one.

I'd pay a pretty hefty price for a 50% retained RoR a la mccabe deal where they ate 3 years.