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

[Scorcho]

Don’t the Devils hook up these kids with some practise jerseys etc!?
Vanacek and Nemec both not rocking out old prior teams jerseys practicing. Must be by choice and not a deal at all what so ever . If I was a NHL prospect , I’d be rocking out as much of my NHL teams gear as possible. Off the ice I’d be wearing at least NHLPA shit but mostly my teams full gear like shirts , pants , hat etc etc

looks like he's practicing with players from his old club in this photo

 

[Guttersniped]

He was wearing devils gear in previous practices. The jersey he has in the pic is HK Liptovsky Mikulas, where he played until he was 14.
He was actually playing some shinny style hockey as well some days with some older retired Slovak players too (Mesar was playing too).

It’s a pretty cool logo, I would rock a badass St Nicholas, even better with a hockey stick.

 

[Guttersniped]

It could be worse….

Forget the pants, the Flyers logo in back is the best part.

That’s the charity in South Jersey he’s done for years with close friend, and off-season work out buddy, Tony D’Angelo. A number of Flyers players are involved.

The Flyers not even making Gaudreau an offer this off-season will never not be both amazing and hilarious to me.

 

[My3Sons]

It’s a pretty cool logo, I would rock a badass St Nicholas, even better with a hockey stick.

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I’d have gone with The Krampuses over St. Nick but that is a fun crest.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Forget the pants, the Flyers logo in back is the best part.

That’s the charity in South Jersey he’s done for years with close friend, and off-season work out buddy, Tony D’Angelo. A number of Flyers players are involved.

The Flyers not even making Gaudreau an offer this off-season will never not be both amazing and hilarious to me.

There's zero chance Gaudreau is 5'9". I would be shocked if he's legitimately 5'7".

 

[Guttersniped]

There's zero chance Gaudreau is 5'9". I would be shocked if he's legitimately 5'7".

Yeah, I know if anything could stop this on Philly’s end was all their talk about getting back to “Flyer’s Brand/Style hockey. The brutality of the cap dump market has taken teams by surprise and that didn’t help.

It’s also pretty funny that Daniel Briere was talking about that on TV at the draft and he’s not much bigger than Gaudreau. He is bigger though and did play a little chippy for his size while Gaudreau avoids contact.

For me it was more his clear desperation to go there.

I don’t think it was the same for Tkachuk with St Louis, he sounded like he had sentimental attachment to the Blues and the area but that he really wanted to live in Florida.

Blues fans blame taxes & hometown pressures, but Tkachuk was immediately “quality of life” and “where I want to raise my family” lol.

 

[My3Sons]

Yeah, I know if anything could stop this on Philly’s end was all their talk about getting back to “Flyer’s Brand/Style hockey. The brutality of the cap dump market has taken teams by surprise and that didn’t help.

It’s also pretty funny that Daniel Briere was talking about that on TV at the draft and he’s not much bigger than Gaudreau. He is bigger though and did play a little chippy for his size while Gaudreau avoids contact.

For me it was more his clear desperation to go there.

I don’t think it was the same for Tkachuk with St Louis, he sounded like he had sentimental attachment to the Blues and the area but that he really wanted to live in Florida.

Blues fans blame taxes & hometown pressures, but Tkachuk was immediately “quality of life” and “where I want to raise my family” lol.

My brother complains about raising his kids in Coral Gables so we will see how Tkachuk fares living in Frenchman’s Creek in Palm Beach Gardens.

 

[Guttersniped]

My brother complains about raising his kids in Coral Gables so we will see how Tkachuk fares living in Frenchman’s Creek in Palm Beach Gardens.

I’d rather shoot myself in the head than live in Florida but millions do it voluntarily so who am I to judge.

 

[Daida]

It’s a pretty cool logo, I would rock a badass St Nicholas, even better with a hockey stick.

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thanks, that's my hometown's team- and the town is actually named after saint Nicholas! It is quite unfortunate our logo is so much better than our hockey, we usually finish bottom of the league. Needless to say, Nemec is already the best player that was somewhat developed in the organization.

 

[yzerman]

When do you think at the earliest he comes up to NHL?and i have the same question for Luke Hughes?

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

When do you think at the earliest he comes up to NHL?and i have the same question for Luke Hughes?

Before the John Marino acquisition, I'd say there was a good chance Nemec gets his 9 games to start this year, with a chance to stick on the third pairing if he proves he can play. But now I think he'll get his shot next year when Severson (presumably) isn't retained. So he'll spend this year in the AHL, likely leapfrogging Walsh on the depth chart, though maybe not being the first call-up option if/when injuries hit.

Luke Hughes will definitely be an NHLer next season. Morreale certainly talks like it's a foregone conclusion he's on the team next year after one more season at Michigan:

Top prospects for New Jersey Devils | NHL.com

Holtz, Zetterlund each could earn NHL role this season while New Jersey awaits Hughes, Nemec

www.nhl.com

And that seems to be everyone else's opinion as well.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Imagine if he signed here. Our writer would be all over him and run him out of town.

Luckily he'll get less media attention playing in Columbus

Less media than with the Devils? Not likely.

 

[Tusks Up]

Less media than with the Devils? Not likely.

Columbus probably doesnt reach as many audiences as New Jersey. Especially with MSG Network and the generally small vicinity between the Devils and Rangers, Islanders, and Flyers.

 

[Devils731]

Pronman Mailbag: Dach vs. Nazar, 2023 NHL Draft and Tim Stützle's value

Subscribers had questions on prospects who were traded, contracts, the 2023 and 2024 drafts, and more for The Athletic's Corey Pronman.

theathletic.com

Part of Pronman’s answer from his mailbag.

“Do you expect Simon Nemec to start the year with the Devils or in the AHL? Do you think there is a path with the big club for him this year and what production can we expect from him? — Dominic G.

I would like to give him one more year outside the league, although I don’t think it’s crazy for him to be in the NHL right away. I’d like to see him develop physically a little more and play in the AHL, given it’ll be a big jump from Slovakia’s top league.”

————-

I expect him to start in the AHL but it also wouldn’t surprise me if he’s one of the 6 best defenseman in training camp.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

i think even if Nemec is clearly a better overall defenseman than Smith or Bahl in camp, it’s unlikely he makes the team outright. He might get a few games before being sent down. But from all of Fitz’s “tougher to play against” and “different kinda of players” quotes, you can bet he wants a little more sandpaper throughout the lineup. I doubt Nemec will be bringing any of that. I don’t want another “play like Volchenkov or you’re benched” situation with a promising young defenseman.

 

[My3Sons]

i think even if Nemec is clearly a better overall defenseman than Smith or Bahl in camp, it’s unlikely he makes the team outright. He might get a few games before being sent down. But from all of Fitz’s “tougher to play against” and “different kinda of players” quotes, you can bet he wants a little more sandpaper throughout the lineup. I doubt Nemec will be bringing any of that. I don’t want another “play like Volchenkov or you’re benched” situation with a promising young defenseman.

Waivers and salary cap being wiat they are, Bahl, Nemec, and Okhotyuk all may start in Utica. Zetterlund requires waivers while the young defenders do not. If the team wants to keep Zetterlund it looks like they have to send down Nemec to create cap space to keep Zetterlund up if cap friendly is correct. Of course, the team has too many forwards if Wood is healthy and they may try to send Zetterlund down to Utica which would open an extra spot in the cap for a young defender. If they do try to demote Zetterlund my guess is he gets claimed.

 

[HBK27]

Waivers and salary cap being wiat they are, Bahl, Nemec, and Okhotyuk all may start in Utica. Zetterlund requires waivers while the young defenders do not. If the team wants to keep Zetterlund it looks like they have to send down Nemec to create cap space to keep Zetterlund up if cap friendly is correct. Of course, the team has too many forwards if Wood is healthy and they may try to send Zetterlund down to Utica which would open an extra spot in the cap for a young defender. If they do try to demote Zetterlund my guess is he gets claimed.

It would be a massive blunder if they try to sneak Zetterlund through waivers, as he most definitely will get claimed. He had a great season in the AHL last year and looked good in the NHL. No reason he shouldn't be the 14th forward if everyone is healthy, even if that means that Holtz starts the year in the AHL. Injuries will eventually happen to open up a spot for him or you just banish Johnsson one way or another (waivers/trade) to open up a spot.

If Bahl, Nemec and Okhotiuk are all starting in Utica though, that only leaves the team with 6 defensemen so you figure one of them (or Walsh) will start the season with the big club.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

yeah i think Zetterlund’s a bit of a shoe-in by default (compared to Holtz) between his heavier style of play, more pro experience, and bring waiver eligible. Considering how good he looked at the end of the last season, i have no problem with that.

The team might also have some space with Bernier going on LTIR, but i still think someone’s gotta get moved. I could see Fitz wanting to let the pieces sort themselves out in camp before doing anything. It’s entirely possible none of the young forwards look great and Johnsson is one of the 12 best forwards on the roster.

 

[Guttersniped]

If we’re using LTIR then Nemec’s cap hit gets a whole lot bigger because it changes to include all his bonuses when we’re under LTIR.

Nemec’s cap hit goes from 950k to 4.2m. At least at the start of the year, it only includes bonuses he qualifies for so later in the season it could/would go down.

Now they might start the season with Nemec on the roster to balloon the cap up and then send him down. To fiddle with the cap.

I gave up trying to figure out the LTIR rules this off-season. Some aren’t in the CBA & maybe got tweaked? *confused shrug*

I’ve seen the bonus thing repeated a lot, I’m pretty confident with that part, but when I went further down that rabbit hole I remembered how much that rabbit hole f***ing sucks. (IMHO, I’m not a hobbyist accountant.)

 

[Nocashstyle]

I have a feeling Nemec is going to look great in camp and earn a spot on opening night…but he eventually settles in the the AHL soon after

 

[HBK27]

If we’re using LTIR then Nemec’s cap hit gets a whole lot bigger because it changes to include all his bonuses when we’re under LTIR.

Nemec’s cap hit goes from 950k to 4.2m. At least at the start of the year, it only includes bonuses he qualifies for so later in the season it could/would go down.

Now they might start the season with Nemec on the roster to balloon the cap up and then send him down. To fiddle with the cap.

I gave up trying to figure out the LTIR rules this off-season. Some aren’t in the CBA & maybe got tweaked? *confused shrug*

I’ve seen the bonus thing repeated a lot, I’m pretty confident with that part, but when I went further down that rabbit hole I remembered how much that rabbit hole f***ing sucks. (IMHO, I’m not a hobbyist accountant.)

Very interesting if true (and I have zero reason to doubt you) and would seemingly be very beneficial to NJ. I also am interesting in figuring out how the cap puzzle will work, but don't know all the ins & outs of it.

From what I do think I know though - if Nemec's cap hit increased from $950K to $4.2M and we added Zetterlund's $750K hit, that would be a +$4.0M swing and bring the cap hit up to $86,426,625. The $3,926,625 we exceed the cap by would be offset by Bernier's $4.125M LTIR hit - which would allow us to exceed the cap by the $3,926,625 and thus maximize Bernier's LTIR replacement at more than 95% of his cap hit.

I think...though that seems almost too easy/ideal.

Maybe we can get some Tampa fans over here to see if this is correct?

As you said, it could just be a paper move to start the season in order to maximize cap space and then Nemec could be swapped with another defensemen in the AHL.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

If we’re using LTIR then Nemec’s cap hit gets a whole lot bigger because it changes to include all his bonuses when we’re under LTIR.

Nemec’s cap hit goes from 950k to 4.2m. At least at the start of the year, it only includes bonuses he qualifies for so later in the season it could/would go down.

Now they might start the season with Nemec on the roster to balloon the cap up and then send him down. To fiddle with the cap.

I gave up trying to figure out the LTIR rules this off-season. Some aren’t in the CBA & maybe got tweaked? *confused shrug*

I’ve seen the bonus thing repeated a lot, I’m pretty confident with that part, but when I went further down that rabbit hole I remembered how much that rabbit hole f***ing sucks. (IMHO, I’m not a hobbyist accountant.)

interesting, had no idea it worked this way. Good luck Fitz!

 

[Devils731]

If we’re using LTIR then Nemec’s cap hit gets a whole lot bigger because it changes to include all his bonuses when we’re under LTIR.

Nemec’s cap hit goes from 950k to 4.2m. At least at the start of the year, it only includes bonuses he qualifies for so later in the season it could/would go down.

Now they might start the season with Nemec on the roster to balloon the cap up and then send him down. To fiddle with the cap.

I gave up trying to figure out the LTIR rules this off-season. Some aren’t in the CBA & maybe got tweaked? *confused shrug*

I’ve seen the bonus thing repeated a lot, I’m pretty confident with that part, but when I went further down that rabbit hole I remembered how much that rabbit hole f***ing sucks. (IMHO, I’m not a hobbyist accountant.)

Can you point me to any documentation for this because it doesn’t match my understanding over LTIR nor Carryover Overages.

For my understanding, bonuses are only accounted for after the season ends and if a team built up no cap space due to using LTIR the whole season then the entire bonus will Carryover and be removed from next years cap.

 

[Brodeur]

When do you think at the earliest he comes up to NHL?and i have the same question for Luke Hughes?

Frozen Four is April 6-8 in Tampa. If Michigan were to make it to that weekend, the Devils would have two more regular season games. So Luke could have a brief cameo at the end of the season depending on how meaningful those games end up being.

Back in 2016, we had a couple prospects on Boston College (Miles Wood / Steve Santini) who ended up losing on the first night of the Frozen Four. Once they got back to Boston, they both signed and took a road trip to play in the season finale for the Devils.

As for Nemec, I think we'll see a cup of coffee this season once the inevitable injuries start happening. They added Thomas Hickey to camp as a PTO and he might be a fit to be the healthy scratch / good locker room presence #7D. Meanwhile, Nemec/Bahl/Okhotiuk can get regular playing time in the AHL.

 

[Guttersniped]

Very interesting if true (and I have zero reason to doubt you) and would seemingly be very beneficial to NJ. I also am interesting in figuring out how the cap puzzle will work, but don't know all the ins & outs of it.

From what I do think I know though - if Nemec's cap hit increased from $950K to $4.2M and we added Zetterlund's $750K hit, that would be a +$4.0M swing and bring the cap hit up to $86,426,625. The $3,926,625 we exceed the cap by would be offset by Bernier's $4.125M LTIR hit - which would allow us to exceed the cap by the $3,926,625 and thus maximize Bernier's LTIR replacement at more than 95% of his cap hit.

I think...though that seems almost too easy/ideal.

Maybe we can get some Tampa fans over here to see if this is correct?

As you said, it could just be a paper move to start the season in order to maximize cap space and then Nemec could be swapped with another defensemen in the AHL.

It might not be good, because according to Cap Friendly, LTIR has a separate performance bonus relief pool and salary relief pool.

If you run out bonus relief then it just comes out of salary relief but it might not go both ways.

*more confused shrugging* This is why I tapped out. Teams pay people to figure this out.

Here’s a link to the Cap Friendly FAQ, which is very knowledgeable and makes my noggin hurt.

The warning near the front:

Ok, it’s not that, it’s this…

LTIR is a very complicated aspect of the NHL operations and the vast majority of details are not specified in the CBA.

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com