Prospect Info: New Jersey Devils Draft Simon Nemec, 2nd Overall

[AfroThunder396]

The other day someone said that taking a defenseman at #2 would be like taking an NFL lineman top-5, not sexy at all but important and the sort of thing that turns your franchise around if you have the balls to do it.

The idea of Luke/Mukhamadullin/Siegenthaler on the left side and Hamilton/Nemec on the right side for the next decade is awesome, with guys like Okhotiuk, Bahl, Walsh, McCarthy and others either getting the chance to develop slowly and steadily or turning into trade bait.

Just sign a starting goalie and make a move for another top-6 forward and we're in business.

 

[glenwo2]

Every single offensive d prospect has defense as a weakness.

okay. So that proves I don't read scouting reports all that often (if ever).

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Okhotyuk-Nemec in Utica next year?

I hope Okhotiuk isn’t in Utica next year. And it sounds like Nemec will have a shot at the big club too.

Imagine that ends up being our 3rd pair.

 

[Devilsgrl35]

Nemec being close to NHL ready and filling a need was absolutely the deciding factor. Slaf and Nemec were 1 and 2 on our board. This kid is talented as hell and we did what the Flyers should've done in 2017.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I think what we need at this point is for @StevenToddIves to come in here and calm some of y'all down.

Best I can do is his favorite draft pundit:

 

[Hisch13r]

Okhotyuk-Nemec in Utica next year?

I think Okhotyuk could potentially end up on the team

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

All the people complaining about this pick would’ve done the same if we picked Makar in 2017 which would’ve been more of a reach. I’m not saying he’ll be as good as Makar but I really like Nemec and this is huge for our defensive core and future.

I respect them not just taking who they’re expected to take and instead going with the guy they want.

Someone said they see him more like Fox than Makar and I do agree. I don't see any Makar in him but I think he has the upside of Fox.

 

[RememberTheName]

You're terrible at evaluating talent then

Overreacted due to immediate emotions. Probably should have thought a little more before I posted but I was quite upset about the pick and I shouldn’t have posted overreactions to this thread. That being said, i don’t personally think it’s very good right now, but I said I will reevaluate my film when I get the chance because everyone seems to be saying otherwise and I’m wondering if I missed something when I watched him. I don’t particularly think his positioning is good at all right now, especially in transition, and I don’t think he utilizes his body really at all, and automatically defaults to using his stick in place of his body. Again, I’m gonna reevaluate and post my thoughts here when I get the chance.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Someone said they see him more like Fox than Makar and I do agree. I don't see any Makar in him but I think he has the upside of Fox.

I don’t think he’s like either of them.
I like the Josi comparison the most but maybe not as good of a skater but better defensively.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Overreacted due to immediate emotions. Probably should have thought a little more before I posted but I was quite upset about the pick and I shouldn’t have posted overreactions to this thread. That being said, i don’t personally think it’s very good right now, but I said I will reevaluate my film when I get the chance because everyone seems to be saying otherwise and I’m wondering if I missed something when I watched him. I don’t particularly think his positioning is good at all right now, especially in transition, and I don’t think he utilizes his body really at all, and automatically defaults to using his stick in place of his body. Again, I’m gonna reevaluate and post my thoughts here when I get the chance.

I 100% agree that it's currently a weakness and not a strength, but it's miles better than Luke Hughes which you seemed to have calm down on.

 

[Devs3cups]

I think Okhotyuk could potentially end up on the team

I really, REALLY, liked his stint last year.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Someone said they see him more like Fox than Makar and I do agree. I don't see any Makar in him but I think he has the upside of Fox.

I agree that his style is more like Fox than Makar, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle though. A little more dynamic than Fox, but doesn't have the Makar generational skating/flash.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I don’t think he’s like either of them.
I like the Josi comparison the most but maybe not as good of a skater but better defensively.

Yea, point was I don't see any Makar in him. He's not nearly as dynamic imo but much more steady in all 3 zones with a lot of offensive upside. Josi is a good comparison.

Idk how Fox's defense is cuz I will never watch any NYR games.

 

[Devs3cups]

I don’t think he’s like either of them.
I like the Josi comparison the most but maybe not as good of a skater but better defensively.

THN comparison in their 2022 Draft Preview is Heiskanen.

 

[Hisch13r]

THN comparison in their 2022 Draft Preview is Heiskanen.

That's a weird one. Even if you think Nemec is good defensively he's an offense first guy. Heiskanen is defense first

 

[RememberTheName]

I 100% agree that it's currently a weakness and not a strength, but it's miles better than Luke Hughes which you seemed to have calm down on.

Yea, I posted that as a knee jerk pissed off reaction. Emotions get the best of us sometimes, especially since I try to be really passionate about the draft and trying to get the best players possible. It’s easy to shit on the guy who is taken over the players you really wanted when it’s not really warranted.

 

[Oneiro]

That's a weird one. Even if you think Nemec is good defensively he's an offense first guy. Heiskanen is defense first

Think it's the smoothness to their skating and low key approach to the game, less the specific strengths.

 

[Hisch13r]

Think it's the smoothness to their skating and low key approach to the game, less the specific strengths.

Even then though I don't think Nemec skates nearly as well as Heiskanen. Last year I likened Luke's skating to Heiskanen and that made sense to me. I think Nemec is a pretty good skater but not elite like Heiskanen

 

[devilsblood]

I hope Okhotiuk isn’t in Utica next year. And it sounds like Nemec will have a shot at the big club too.

Imagine that ends up being our 3rd pair.

2 rooks?

I'm still thinking they bring in a defensive vet for RHD. But maybe lower quality then I was thinking. Or they bring in a pretty good one and Sev's days are numbered.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I think Okhotyuk could potentially end up on the team

I cant see why Okhotyuk would not be on our NHL roster this coming season, unless some high incoming d trades are made. He was really solid in his stint at the end. A player this team needs. If Nemec can slot in somehow this season or next would be awesome.

 

[JK3]

I originally wanted one of the 2 RD until Slaf shot up. No problem at all with how things shook out. I’m pretty pumped with our D right now.

 

[Hisch13r]

I cant see why Okhotyuk would not be on our NHL roster this coming season, unless some high incoming d trades are made. He was really solid in his stint at the end. A player this team needs. If Nemec can slot in somehow this season or next would be awesome.

Ty bounce back and they like Bahl more along with adding a RD would push Okhotyuk to the 8th D

 

[BurntToast]

I was upset the Devils missed on Slaf, but I never wanted Wright. I would of went RD, Cutter, heck even Cooly. Wright playing disinterested (boring) was a major flag for me. I think Wrights floor is solid but not sure if he is more than 2/3 line center. I do feel bad watching him drop.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Tell me what in Fitz or Castron’s track record of losing franchises would lead you to believe they should get the same benefit of the doubt a la Yzerman who built most of the superteam in Tampa?

Castron already has a great track record. Fitz was here 2 years so I'm not sure why you're shitting on him. Yzerman doesn't have a 100% success rate either. The only pick I think Fitz whiffed on is Stillman pick.

 

[TBF1972]

Nemec is not a bad pick. At least he removes Walsh from NHL considerations.