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

[devilsfan35]

The fact that he played in Slovakias top pro league at age 15 as a dman speaks for itlsef. That’s like Slovak exceptional status lol.

 

[goonybird]

His against men % per 60 is one of the best in the draft

 

[StevenToddIves]

I’m not opposed to signing Ilya to play 3rd but I have a feeling they will give nemec a shot there or resign PK

Re-signing PK to a one year deal would be fine. Rushing Nemec to the NHL would be a mistake.

 

[Hisch13r]

Re-signing PK to a one year deal would be fine. Rushing Nemec to the NHL would be a mistake.

Yup he needs to be outright great for me to not express caution and give him an AHL year. Better for development and preserves an ELC year on top of that.

 

[Devs3cups]

Yup he needs to be outright great for me to not express caution and give him an AHL year. Better for development and preserves an ELC year on top of that.

100%. If he deserves too, as Mercer did for example, I’ll be fine with it. If not, AHL will definitely do.

The fact that Nemec has played against men very well for the last 3 years does make me more secure with him being able to handle adversity, but regardless, I’m 99% sure he’ll be in the AHL. Fitz/Ruff haven’t shown a propensity to rush guys. Mercer was ready, Holtz wasn’t, and wasn’t given a spot just because of his status. They understand developmental curves and patience with these kids.

 

[JimEIV]

Looks like Nemec is going to be wearing Eric Weinrich's old #5

 

[devilsblood]

Re-signing PK to a one year deal would be fine. Rushing Nemec to the NHL would be a mistake.

I just watched the Fitz presser from the post draft, and from that it really sounded like the plan was for Nemec to play in the AHL.

I would say that he could earn a spot, but I think they bring in a guy good enough for that 3rd spot that Nemec won't really have a chance to earn it.

I expect Nemec will be in Utica and, if he plays well enough, would be the first guy up in case of injury. Or a Sev's trade at the deadline.(not sure if that topic has been discussed yet, but definitely something I've been thinking).

 

[StevenToddIves]

I just watched the Fitz presser from the post draft, and from that it really sounded like the plan was for Nemec to play in the AHL.

I would say that he could earn a spot, but I think they bring in a guy good enough for that 3rd spot that Nemec won't really have a chance to earn it.

I expect Nemec will be in Utica and, if he plays well enough, would be the first guy up in case of injury. Or a Sev's trade at the deadline.(not sure if that topic has been discussed yet, but definitely something I've been thinking).

The place for Nemec right now is the AHL. He already was spectacular in a men's league, especially given his age. He immediately displaces Reilly Walsh as the best offensive RD on that team and should quickly shoot up the depth chart as Utica's top defenseman.

 

[Devs3cups]

The place for Nemec right now is the AHL. He already was spectacular in a men's league, especially given his age. He immediately displaces Reilly Walsh as the best offensive RD on that team and should quickly shoot up the depth chart as Utica's top defenseman.

Exactly. I’m glad Fitz sees it the same. If Nemec’s blows you away? That’s another story. But I’m still 99% sure he’s in Utica.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Exactly. I’m glad Fitz sees it the same. If Nemec’s blows you away? That’s another story. But I’m still 99% sure he’s in Utica.

Honestly, I give Nemec a couple "adjustment months" in Utica even if he absolutely kills it at camp. With defensemen, I think development is more important than with forwards, and it's a ton of pressure to put on the kid to start him right away in the NHL.

Devils are swimming in cap room, and I feel the smart thing to do would be to sign a UFA like Lyubushkin for a year or two, which would also give the Devils a veteran pairing with whomever wins the 3-LD battle out of camp between Okhotyuk/Bahl/Smith.

 

[Devs3cups]

Honestly, I give Nemec a couple "adjustment months" in Utica even if he absolutely kills it at camp. With defensemen, I think development is more important than with forwards, and it's a ton of pressure to put on the kid to start him right away in the NHL.

Devils are swimming in cap room, and I feel the smart thing to do would be to sign a UFA like Lyubushkin for a year or two, which would also give the Devils a veteran pairing with whomever wins the 3-LD battle out of camp between Okhotyuk/Bahl/Smith.

Hard to disagree here, and again, I’m glad Fitz feels the same. D-men don’t seem to bu rushed. Even Muk, who ended the season in Utica, was sent back to Russia.

 

[Guttersniped]

The ceiling for Nemec is definitely higher of course, but Visnovksy was a good defender who likely would have been higher rated in the analytics era.

Visnovksy was good, he did come in 4th in Norris voting in 2010-11, but he was drafted in the 4th Rd in 2000 at age 23 in his D+6 season.

Kind of tough to compare the two players development.

 

[Bcap88]

More and more time has passed and more and more happier I have become with this pick.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

Sometimes building teams is boring. I see the argument against Wright now, even if his skills are there. And mind you - he was never projected to be a franchise player.

We filled a hole in our prospect pool / depth. The only thing left is goalies - which, well, we spoke ad nauseum in the other thread.

 

[Devs3cups]

Sometimes building teams is boring. I see the argument against Wright now, even if his skills are there. And mind you - he was never projected to be a franchise player.

We filled a hole in our prospect pool / depth. The only thing left is goalies - which, well, we spoke ad nauseum in the other thread.

This. Nemec is seen as a boring player by some, but watching his highlights, he’s far from boring. If Nemec played in the CHL, he would’ve been seen way differently. He also would’ve murdered that league lol.

 

[AfroThunder396]

The fact that he can play in the AHL at 18 is awesome, use it. I bet he gets a couple of NHL games this year but there's no reason to rush him. Sign a cheap veteran guy for RHD #3.

 

[Oneiro]

Maybe a Monday Morning QB take, but it seems to me that the least controversial guy in the top 5 of a draft - I think of Barkov, Heiskanen, Svechnikov, Beniers, Byram, etc. - is often the guy you want to pick if the consensus No. 1 is gone. I'd put Nemec in that bucket.

 

[Guadana]

Who cares? Fitz has zero track record for going against the grain and coming away with the better player. Zero. He could feel that Maveric Lameuroux was the best player in the draft for all I care. Means nothing.

At this point I'd rather have Byron Bader running the drafts. Funny enough, he probably would have made the same pick at #2.



Nah, I'm just too tired of this. I have no faith that he's not going to go off the board at #37 because at this point it's his MO. He'll probably pick a goalie or something.

Can you imagine if Shero was here? We probably walk away with Wright and Chesley. Maybe he moves back into the first round somehow and we come away with Wright and Yurov.

Fitz is not the right man for the job. He's done irreparable damage to the rebuild. I don't think I can get too invested in the team any more until he's gone. Hopefully it will be soon after Wright shows him to be an absolute clown.

Shero would pick Wright and all teams would say thanks to him. He would trade second and third for puljujarvi. And would draft “Walsh’s” ans “smith’s” in later rounds. You are unerstanding Shero moves incorrectly. And ofcourse Tyler boaak would be the only sign in the summer. Goalies? Aaron Dell of course. Two signings. “We believe Blackwood bounce back”, like Shero believed in Schneider’s bounce back.

i believe he wold draft Rossi, Schneider and trade back to draft wallinder and grans In 2020. And draft Clarke in 2021. Trade back with later pick to draft Raty and Zelllweger. Because that’s like he is drafting. Consensus over scouting. Bratt and Yegor? He did trust his scouts in the same way like Fitz doing it. Later picks would be the same.

Fitz done great job with Nemec, Vanecek and Casey in first two rounds. Nemec is awesome prospect, who will be a great part of fundamen of this team for the next 11 years. Casey has huuuuge ceiling. And Vanecek is younger than Husso and Campbell, but he is healthy, with good experience and great in 5 on 5, we actually looking for from the goalie. Thanks God, the previous one doesn’t manage this team anymore. It would be eternal retooling with gambling on questionable players every summer.

thanks, no.

 

[Xirik]

After watching this I am now 100% sure he is the son of Gilbert Gottfried

 

[Darkauron]

I am not opposed to giving Nemec a few games, but he really should spend the vast majority of the season in the AHL

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I think where he plays should be mostly dependent on how he plays.

If he comes into camp, does really well and looks ready than he should get a shot and if he continues it into the season than he should play.

But if they aren’t sure he’s ready and want him to work on some things he should start in the AHL.

 

[devilsblood]

I think where he plays should be mostly dependent on how he plays.

If he comes into camp, does really well and looks ready than he should get a shot and if he continues it into the season than he should play.

But if they aren’t sure he’s ready and want him to work on some things he should start in the AHL.

I mention it above, but Dev's will look to bring a quality 3rd pair RHD guy in. If we had a quality vet on the 3rd pair on the left it would change things, then maybe Nemec if he impresses early, makes the team and is shepherded in by a vet, but way too risky going into this season with a bunch of young uproven guys on that 3rd pair.

And by bringing in that vet, it probably means Nemec doesn't have much of a chance.

 

[devilsfan35]

I hope we sign someone like Christian Jaros, a fellow Slovak D-Man to help him adjust in Utica. Our pro development team really needs to do a good job with him, giving him every opportunity to succeed

 

[ninetyeight]

I mention it above, but Dev's will look to bring a quality 3rd pair RHD guy in.

And who exactly would this RHD be? Are you thinking Free Agency or trade?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I mention it above, but Dev's will look to bring a quality 3rd pair RHD guy in. If we had a quality vet on the 3rd pair on the left it would change things, then maybe Nemec if he impresses early, makes the team and is shepherded in by a vet, but way too risky going into this season with a bunch of young uproven guys on that 3rd pair.

And by bringing in that vet, it probably means Nemec doesn't have much of a chance.

It really depends on who we bring in but if it’s not a big signing than he could reasonably displace whatever RD we have to 7th D if he did well enough. There’s also always injuries it seems so who knows what’ll happen.

At the end of day he likely starts in the AHL though. However, think it’s more likely than not that we see him at least briefly by the end of the season.