Speculation: Nemec not happy with the Devils?

[My3Sons]

10-16 mid 1st + Evans 50% (Needed 3C at almost league minimum) and change the prospect to Tuch for the heavy 4th line player B prospect.
With this offer, you fill 2 holes and have a good 1st to fill the needed scorer rôle and you still have cap space to do so.
This is not bad for a non roster player.

The premise for NJ seems to be that Nemec starts back with the big club next season and can play in the NHL at a second pair level for say 8-10 years. I doubt they just view him as a non-roster player.

 

[Habs Halifax]

10-16 mid 1st + Evans 50% (Needed 3C at almost league minimum) and change the prospect to Tuch for the heavy 4th line player B prospect.
With this offer, you fill 2 holes and have a good 1st to fill the needed scorer rôle and you still have cap space to do so.
This is not bad for a non roster player.

I'm fairly flexible on the 3rd part but that part won't be a grade A. We have plenty of B or B+ type prospects we can allow the Devils to choose from. The part that annoys me is fans dwelling on the 3rd piece and ignoring the 10-16 range 1st also being in the deal.

Our dangle is basically the 10-16 range 1st and Evans who helps them now. Maybe the Devils are OK with it as long as they get Evans locked up to a deal they like? Filling a 3C hole and still left with a very good pick and B+ prospect. That pick can very well be a Grade A if their scouts do their homework. That's not some back of the bus 1st

 

[Byron Bitz]

That 2026 unprotected 1st is a tough asset to give up for Nemec but an understandable ask.

Yeah but i thinks it’s either that or Dickinson if we are making a realistic proposal.

 

[MakoSlade]

Evans, Nelson, Granlund, Frederick, Oliveri, Tanev. All players I hope Fitz is looking at, that check one or more boxes you mentioned above

You mean Mathieu Olivier?

Great list, depending on cost and chance to keep long term. Not sure Nemec would be involved in a deal for any though. If we trade Nemec we should get a similar high end young guy back, even if we have to add.

 

[Habs Halifax]

The premise for NJ seems to be that Nemec starts back with the big club next season and can play in the NHL at a second pair level for say 8-10 years. I doubt they just view him as a non-roster player.

I am sure the Devils still hold Nemec with high value and they should. Most fans don't see their RD depth and why Nemec is in the AHL. Devils prefer Kova on the 3rd pair because he is physical and a seasoned vet. Devils are a contender and don't have room for someone to learn on the job. I have read recently that the Devils are talking with Kova on an extension.

If I put myself in their shoes, they might be open to move Nemec but they got to fill holes in the line-up. And that is not just holes for one season.

 

[Chose]

The premise for NJ seems to be that Nemec starts back with the big club next season and can play in the NHL at a second pair level for say 8-10 years. I doubt they just view him as a non-roster player.

With a 10-16 range mid 1st round pick, you can still bank on finding such a defenseman, but you push it down the line while you have 3 RDs that are better right now while you are contending. + You fill the much needed 3C role with a special player and you have another prospect to hit on or to fill a need.

 

[Habs Halifax]

That 2026 unprotected 1st is a tough asset to give up for Nemec but an understandable ask.

I just don't see the Sharks giving up their 1st unprotected at this stage of their rebuild.

And from what I see, if the Devils trade Nemec, they are looking to fill a 3C hole at the very minimum. Someone who is proven and does not need more development. So yeah, fill the 3C hole and other parts added to make up the value difference.

 

[Smitty426]

You mean Mathieu Olivier?

Great list, depending on cost and chance to keep long term. Not sure Nemec would be involved in a deal for any though. If we trade Nemec we should get a similar high end young guy back, even if we have to add.

Yes MO, who is not available most likely. I think a lot of these are rentals, which has not been Fitz's thing to date on TDL. I apologize, this was just a list of what I'd liek to see not what Nemec is worth. I dont see nemec being moved period. Its a summer move, if at all when we know what Hamilton is/isnt being asked. Also whether Kovacevic gets a bag or he gets paid well to stay on a team contendiong for years.
I see Frederick and Olivier as a signing after this year if I had my way. Bastioan Tatar Haula all walk. Some added from Utica and some from FA. I'd still love Ross Colton from Avs but its a pipe dream.

 

[Habs Halifax]

With a 10-16 range mid 1st round pick, you can still bank on finding such a defenseman, but you push it down the line while you have 3 RDs that are better right now while you are contending. + You fill the much needed 3C role with a special player and you have another prospect to hit on or to fill a need.

It's the best offer the Habs can make IMO. If it doesn't meet their expectations, I don't think the Habs can afford to go any deeper and we have to pass and stay put with what we have.

That's my angle on it anyways.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

If you're looking at moving Hamilton in the offseason and he's willing to waive for San Jose for whatever reason, what would you be looking for? Would you just want cap space or would you want certain help?

The return wouldn’t be the centerpiece of that deal as compared to the cap savings/roster maneuverability, so I don’t think Fitzgerald would drive too hard a bargain.

The question on any of those deals is really going to come down to Hamilton and where the NTC lands. Guy are pretty strategic these days in terms of picking teams that would be in the market.

 

[Bankerguy]

this Nemec situation is probably blown outa porportion...BUT if he did actually ask for a trade then it makes some sense for a Nemec plus CAP dump for jt. miller.
Van gets a good piece, and the Devils probably win the cup lol Jt. Miller would fit that team so well its scary.
NJD or Carolina are the teams that i think could use him the most... he'd put either team over the top

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Yeah but i thinks it’s either that or Dickinson if we are making a realistic proposal.

If the Sharks end up with Schaefer out of this draft, I could see them making Dickinson available for Nemec in this sort of proposal.

I just don't see the Sharks giving up their 1st unprotected at this stage of their rebuild.

And from what I see, if the Devils trade Nemec, they are looking to fill a 3C hole at the very minimum. Someone who is proven and does not need more development. So yeah, fill the 3C hole and other parts added to make up the value difference.

I don't see it either but a recent 1st like Dickinson could be made available if the Sharks end up selecting Schaefer from this draft. A proven 3C that makes sense for the Devils from the Sharks is probably not in the cards. Granlund is a rental and nowhere near worth Nemec and Wennberg is good enough for that role but not good enough to return Nemec in any real way other than as a throw-in for another asset that the Devils would want in return for Nemec like a Dickinson or Musty or something like that.

The return wouldn’t be the centerpiece of that deal as compared to the cap savings/roster maneuverability, so I don’t think Fitzgerald would drive too hard a bargain.

The question on any of those deals is really going to come down to Hamilton and where the NTC lands. Guy are pretty strategic these days in terms of picking teams that would be in the market.

I agree as it relates to Hamilton's NTC. It's hard to envision Hamilton putting San Jose on his ten team trade list in July but it's possible that if the Devils talked to Hamilton letting him know that they want to move on that they'd let him talk to Grier about waiving for San Jose. They run in similar circles with Hamilton and Grier both having pasts in New Jersey and Boston that they could feel like it's a good match. And if all it took to get Hamilton from New Jersey was the cap space and like a 2nd round pick or something then it'd be good value for both teams.

 

[McDuffz88]

Nemec to SJ for Liljegren, Collin Graf, Eric Polkamp and a 2026 unprotected 1st.

Why in the world would we want Liljegren?? Did you miss the part that we are so stacked on D that we can't fit Nemec into the lineup?

 

[My3Sons]

It's the best offer the Habs can make IMO. If it doesn't meet their expectations, I don't think the Habs can afford to go any deeper and we have to pass and stay put with what we have.

That's my angle on it anyways.

Which is fair and why these deals don't happen that often in real life. Teams don't want to hurt themselves in a trade on value and that goes both ways. NJ doesn't have to move Nemec and anyone who actually read the interview (the NJ board had the benefit of native Slovak speaker to help with context) knows that Nemec is a bit frustrated but has not said there is a rift with him and NJ. I'm sure he wants to get back to the NHL and if there is no room for him next season then sure I'd expect them to trade him in the offseason but that's a long way off. Assuming NJ makes the playoffs he's with the NHL team in some fashion once Utica's season ends. He's only been playing well for about a month so he has limited ability to push for a call up right now. Beyond that, NJ has cap issues next season. They will likely want to give Luke Hughes a long term deal which will eat up what Hamilton is currently making. It's not ideal but I expect either they do not extend Kovacevic or they trade Hamilton. In either event, Nemec starts next season on NJ's third pair and this non-story gets buried.

 

[Habs Halifax]

this Nemec situation is probably blown outa porportion...BUT if he did actually ask for a trade then it makes some sense for a Nemec plus CAP dump for jt. miller.
Van gets a good piece, and the Devils probably win the cup lol Jt. Miller would fit that team so well its scary.
NJD or Carolina are the teams that i think could use him the most... he'd put either team over the top

Problem with this is the Canucks want a piece they can use now because they have Hughes that is nearing UFA and they want to remain competitive during this timeframe. Nemec is a 2+ year solution if he reaches his ceiling. Look at the Canucks center depth without Miller? I think they will want a center coming back.

I do agree that Nemec's comment is being taken out of context. But my angle is how deep the Devils are at RD and he is a piece they can use in a trade to fill holes on their roster now. I thought this before Nemec made that comment too.

 

[Xirik]

if your a bottom dwelling team that wants a 2nd overall RD that has looked great for most of his short career in NA then your 1st round pick has to be in play. You'd be getting a rare RD that has been developing for two years now.

if you don't want to do that then cry about it.

 

[Frank Drebin]

I know I definitely wouldn't mind taking a guess on him in Montreal, especially since he's friend with Slafkovsky and Mesar, and because we do have needs at RD.

Won't propose anything, cause it's a worthless exercise, but, I wonder if Devils administration will let the situation fester like Columbus did with Jiricek, probably not, but Nemec sure shouldn't act entitled either.

Give them the fourth they gave up for kovacevic and call it even on the jake allen deal

 

[Chose]

if your a bottom dwelling team that wants a 2nd overall RD that has looked great for most of his short career in NA then your 1st round pick has to be in play. You'd be getting a rare RD that has been developing for two years now.

if you don't want to do that then cry about it.

It is.

MTL 1st 2025, Evans, Tuch
vs
Nemec

Evans is valued between 2nd round pick & late 1st.
So it is really close to the value given by the wild for Jiricek, if not better.

 

[KovalchukFistPump]

The smart and easiest thing for the Devils to do is just to move on from Kovacevic when he goes for the highest pay day this summer. Unless they think they have a Gustav Forsling in their hands. But Ryan Graves also looked money for the Devils his second year here. A solid all around D corps makes everyone look good.

 

[Chose]

The smart and easiest thing for the Devils to do is just to move on from Kovacevic when he goes for the highest pay day this summer. Unless they think they have a Gustav Forsling in their hands. But Ryan Graves also looked money for the Devils his second year here. A solid all around D corps makes everyone look good.

That's the easiest thing to do, but the best to get a cup soon while you have a contending team (smart) ?
You already have a huge & gritty effective top4D that you would let go for free to provide NHL development to a 20yo ?
That is a high risk of a set back... Are you ready to do so ?

Apparently, a new contract is being looked at for Kovacevic, so your GM might not think the same way.

 

[My3Sons]

That's the easiest thing to do, but the best to get a cup soon while you have a contending team (smart) ?
You already have a huge & gritty effective top4D that you would let go for free to provide NHL development to a 20yo ?
That is a high risk of a set back... Are you ready to do so ?

Apparently, a new contract is being looked at for Kovacevic, so your GM might not think the same way.

I’m sure NJ would like to extend Kovacevic but this will be his chance for a big payday. I’m skeptical he can extend ehthvNJ at anything reasonable if he can get something akin to a number three defender deal in UFA. NJ woukd probably want him to sign something like Siegenthaler signed.

 

[vtdevils2k]

That's the easiest thing to do, but the best to get a cup soon while you have a contending team (smart) ?
You already have a huge & gritty effective top4D that you would let go for free to provide NHL development to a 20yo ?
That is a high risk of a set back... Are you ready to do so ?

Apparently, a new contract is being looked at for Kovacevic, so your GM might not think the same way.

NJ's window is just opening. They do not have to rush and trade Nemec for a 3C and pieces. That's not happening.

Trade Nemec if so and a cap dump for JT Miller and use Mercer and the 2nds we own to get a 3C. Or Nemec simply waits and continues to develop and comes up if an injury happens and then runs away with the job.

I've said this on here before and will say it again, I cannot see Tom Fitzgerald giving up Simon Nemec for a 3C/spare parts/draft picks. That is a fireable offense. He's too good for such little return and in this case, would be a huge win for MTL which I'm sure you know which is why you want him lol

 

[Smitty426]

this Nemec situation is probably blown outa porportion...BUT if he did actually ask for a trade then it makes some sense for a Nemec plus CAP dump for jt. miller.
Van gets a good piece, and the Devils probably win the cup lol Jt. Miller would fit that team so well its scary.
NJD or Carolina are the teams that i think could use him the most... he'd put either team over the top

Ya think?

 

[TBF1972]

Only thing I can see the Habs offering (as the prime piece) is one of our firsts. Probably going to be 10-16 range. Then we add Evans and allow permission to the Devils to talk sign/trade and he comes with an extension. Then we add a 3rd part and that is a B+ type prospect. That would be my approach and if you are after something different, I'm not sure the Habs are prepared to offer it.

This offer gets the Devils the 3C they need. Then the Devils can either use that 10-16 range pick to draft their own grade A prospect or use it in another trade for upgrades (If they want improvements now). The B+ prospect is just something for the Devils to have in their pool and see how they can develop them to fill a hole in the coming years.

I like Nemec's potential but I like it for the 2+ years timeframe. Yeah, he can play bottom pairing on the Habs now and we can allow a little learning on the job but I can see why the Devils can't do this today.... which is why he is in the AHL. Do I think he has #2 OA value today? No. However, I don't think his value has slipped to the level some other fans are saying. Probably worth a 5-10 range pick now. Slipped but not too far.

I wonder what offers other teams can make now? Like offering a 3C like Evans and another part the Devils can use now? Is there a team out there with that kind of depth they are willing to give? Not sure.

if montreal asks for nemec, my list of targets starts and ends with slafkovsky. everything else would not motivate me to trade him.

i know habs fans will now cry that nemec doesn't have the value. keep it to yourself. the pieces offered imo are further off in value and the devils don't have to trade nemec. and even less so for a undervelming return to montreal.

 

[Habs Halifax]

if montreal asks for nemec, my list of targets starts and ends with slafkovsky. everything else would not motivate me to trade him.

i know habs fans will now cry that nemec doesn't have the value. keep it to yourself. the pieces offered imo are further off in value and the devils don't have to trade nemec. and even less so for a undervelming return to montreal.

Habs can't do that. But what I will do is bookmark this if Nemec gets traded and what the return is . Like I said before, My pitch is Evans with extension and one of our 1st (10-16 range) as the prime piece..... with a B+ type prospect as the 3rd piece. That's the best we can offer IMO. If the Devils are after something different, that is OK.. Habs can't go any deeper.

Nemec does not have #2OA value anymore. More like 5-10 range pick value IMO. Can you avoid the "cry" narrative and just have a respectful conversation? Its not that hard. Those trigger words need to be avoided.