Speculation: Nemec not happy with the Devils?

[Lou Bloom]

Will be 21 in a month, but you are right.

Sure but Kakko will be 24 in a month so it evens out.

 

[Juxtaposer]

With the understanding that this thread is mostly BS, it does seem like something has to break at RD in NJ this summer, no? Hamilton looks pretty unmovable, obviously Pesce isn't going anywhere, so you have one job between Nemec, Casey, and Kovacevic if you re-sign him. Considering the Devils have Cup aspirations, doesn't Nemec seem like the guy to move? Least impact in the short-term and most value in a trade.

With that said, curious what Devils fans would want from SJ for Nemec this summer if he's on the block.

 

[Lou Bloom]

With the understanding that this thread is mostly BS, it does seem like something has to break at RD in NJ this summer, no? Hamilton looks pretty unmovable, obviously Pesce isn't going anywhere, so you have one job between Nemec, Casey, and Kovacevic if you re-sign him. Considering the Devils have Cup aspirations, doesn't Nemec seem like the guy to move? Least impact in the short-term and most value in a trade.

With that said, curious what Devils fans would want from SJ for Nemec this summer if he's on the block.

I think it's more likely between Hamilton and Kovacevic as the odd man out in the offseason. I can't see them spending nearly $20M on the Right side alone and keeping all three of Pesce, Hamilton and Kovacevic, especially since that would mean moving Nemec and severely hampering the long term outlook on the right side.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Ironically, the surname Nemec means (roughly) “he who doesn’t speak”

 

[Juxtaposer]

I think it's more likely between Hamilton and Kovacevic as the odd man out in the offseason. I can't see them spending nearly $20M on the Right side alone and keeping all three of Pesce, Hamilton and Kovacevic, especially since that would mean moving Nemec and severely hampering the long term outlook on the right side.

No offense, but who is taking Hamilton at $9M that he'd waive for?

 

[Forge]

No offense, but who is taking Hamilton at $9M that he'd waive for?

Impossible to say because we don't know his list. He doesn't have a full no move next year.

Teams are out there calling on Seth Jones right now. There will be teams interested in Dougie. The trade value is negligible. And I think and the devils will probably be willing to take back a player with a slightly bloated salary.

 

[Djp]

#2 overall pick in 2022.

Good size(6’1”), skates well, moves the puck well. Can’t get a regular spot in New Jersey for some reason.

Devils fans, what’s going on?

What would he cost and which teams would be interested?

View attachment 962232

Why hes not with team this year? I dont know

I do know they wanted his ELC to slide so his ELC ends with Hamilton's contract ending with ides Nemec replaces hamilton

 

[Lou Bloom]

No offense, but who is taking Hamilton at $9M that he'd waive for?

Nobody thought Trouba would be traded without retention or assets attached. Hamilton is still pacing for a 50+ point season and is still a top 4 caliber defenseman. He's probably not worth $9M even with the cap continuing to rise but I could see teams valuing him at 3/$27M vs signing a UFA to a riskier long term contract. After all we just saw Montour sign for a 7/$50M just this offseason until he's 37.

And if they can't find any takers then they'll likely just let Kovacevic walk and elevate Nemec. Either way I think it's highly unlikely the Devils will have both Kovacevic and Hamilton on the roster next season.

 

[My3Sons]

NJ caught lightning in a bottle this season with Kovacevic. Nemec was injured and only recently returned to form. It’s premature to worry about this. If NJ extends Kovacevic watch what happens over the summer.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Impossible to say because we don't know his list. He doesn't have a full no move next year.

Teams are out there calling on Seth Jones right now. There will be teams interested in Dougie. The trade value is negligible. And I think and the devils will probably definitely be willing to take back a player with a slightly bloated salary.

I'll believe teams are seriously calling on Seth Jones when he gets moved.

All Hamilton has to do is list ten teams on his NTC that can't possibly take on $9M and he's safe. Contending teams don't take on bloated contracts to make room for 21 year old defensemen that may or may not be ready to play every day on a playoff team.

Nobody thought Trouba would be traded without retention or assets attached. Hamilton is still pacing for a 50+ point season and is still a top 4 caliber defenseman. He's probably not worth $9M even with the cap continuing to rise but I could see teams valuing him at 3/$27M vs signing a UFA to a riskier long term contract. After all we just saw Montour sign for a 7/$50M just this offseason until he's 37.

And if they can't find any takers then they'll likely just let Kovacevic walk and elevate Nemec. Either way I think it's highly unlikely the Devils will have both Kovacevic and Hamilton on the roster next season.

Letting Kovacevic walk is a fair play, but he's been a very big contributor to why the Devils are so good this season.

Trouba was strong-armed into accepting a trade to a basement dweller and it blew up the Rangers' locker room. Are you prepared to do that?

And what about Casey? Is he sitting in the AHL for another season and a half?

 

[Forge]

I'll believe teams are seriously calling on Seth Jones when he gets moved.

All Hamilton has to do is list ten teams on his NTC that can't possibly take on $9M and he's safe. Contending teams don't take on bloated contracts to make room for 21 year old defensemen that may or may not be ready to play every day on a playoff team.

They do if they like another defenseman more and don't want to give up that 21 year old defenseman.

 

[Juxtaposer]

They do if they like another defenseman more and don't want to give up that 21 year old defenseman.

If the Devils think they're contenders, why would they purposely make their team worse?

 

[Forge]

If the Devils think they're contenders, why would they purposely make their team worse?

Sometimes you have to make choices. That's long term and short term.

 

[Lou Bloom]

I'll believe teams are seriously calling on Seth Jones when he gets moved.

All Hamilton has to do is list ten teams on his NTC that can't possibly take on $9M and he's safe. Contending teams don't take on bloated contracts to make room for 21 year old defensemen that may or may not be ready to play every day on a playoff team.


Letting Kovacevic walk is a fair play, but he's been a very big contributor to why the Devils are so good this season.

Trouba was strong-armed into accepting a trade to a basement dweller and it blew up the Rangers' locker room. Are you prepared to do that?

And what about Casey? Is he sitting in the AHL for another season and a half?

Kovacevic has been good and ideally Hamilton is the one that's moved and we can re-sign Kovacevic and let Nemec/Casey battle it out for the last spot. But that's dependent on finding a trade for Hamilton which isn't a sure thing and if they can't trade Hamilton then it makes the most sense to let Kovacevic walk and promote Nemec/Casey.

Trouba was also playing much worse than Hamilton and the Rangers forced a move in the middle of the season which would naturally limit the options.

 

[Forge]

It's also not a given that they think moving on from dougie for kovacevic and nemec makes the team worse. But that's not really something I can say for sure

 

[Just Linda]

I've seen the Jiricek trade listed as a comparable, I'd actually say the Byram/Mittelstadt trade would be more the value NJD could get.

When I first thought of it, I hated the thought of trading Nemec but I had to ask 'does waiting on Nemec give them a better chance at a cup or would playing a replacement for him bring them a better chance?'. I think getting a prime forward would be better for their cup chances.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Sometimes you have to make choices. That's long term and short term.

Sure, but as a Sharks fan, I feel like you should never throw away a legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup. All I'm saying.

Kovacevic has been good and ideally Hamilton is the one that's moved and we can re-sign Kovacevic and let Nemec/Casey battle it out for the last spot. But that's dependent on finding a trade for Hamilton which isn't a sure thing and if they can't trade Hamilton then it makes the most sense to let Kovacevic walk and promote Nemec/Casey.

Trouba was also playing much worse than Hamilton and the Rangers forced a move in the middle of the season which would naturally limit the options.

Hamilton is definitely better than Trouba (and Jones, for that matter), but he's also signed longer and for a far greater cap hit and doesn't have the "gritty leadership" shine that Trouba supposedly had. Not that it's not possible, but I don't think that moving Hamilton is going to be easy.

 

[Oneiro]

I would trade Nemec for a Buchnevich level player with some team control for 3+ years, whoever that is.

So high IQ, two way guy who's not a puck hog with above average scoring chops. Basically what Mercer was supposed to be but isn't.

Anything below that tier isn't worth shortening the window.

 

[hirawl]

"If this situation continues..."

Talk about asking for a trade without asking for a trade.

 

[David71]

nemec for boeser?

 

[Jumptheshark]

His numbers have not been good

 

[Egresch]

Ironically, the surname Nemec means (roughly) “he who doesn’t speak”

No it means "German".

 

[Nogatco Rd]

No it means "German".

The proto-Slavs used the word “nemec” to refer to Germanic people because their languages were mutually unintelligible. So in that context it meant “they who do not speak (like us)” or “mute,” and was sometimes used as a term for any foreign people.

Eventually it just became associated with Germans, and is also the root of the Russian word for German, “nemetski,” the Bulgarian “nemski” , etc.

 

[Egresch]

Of course, he is not happy:
- He was sent to AHL in his first year which was a great development from Devils as he was able to adjust to NA and slowly improve his D play
- He had strong rookie season last year where he clearly demonstrated top 4 potential
- Instead of showing him some trust, Devils signed two RHD vets
- I understand it was a coinsidence of his small injury and great play by Kovacevic, but all of a sudden he was back in Utica, The is the last place he wanted to be.
- Last, but not least, he is losing a lot of money now, Not only playing outside NHL, but what would be his next contract? If he has a good next season he might get 2x2M bridge deal, if he had 3 season under his belt he would be looking for 3.5M similar to Siegenthaler AAV. That is literally 3M lost, because of decisions made by Devils management.

 

[Ruutu Tootoo]

Nemec’s development has be abnormal for lack of a better phrase. Year one post draft in Utica, year 2 he was in Utica and then played a huge piece of the season due to Hamilton’s injury, and then this year, he had a rocky start for multiple reasons and Kovacevic came out of nowhere. He really has had a strange path. He needs consistency and time to develop into a defenseman in the North American game and the AHL is the place to do that.


I can see a shake up coming and he gets some time up in New Jersey this season, but I truly think he plays next year and the Devils let Kovacevic walk.

If the Devils move on from him, he should be packaged with Mercer and a pick to go after an elite forward such as Brady Tkachuk if he ends up being available. That’s just an example, but something of that nature.