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

[Scorcho]

Didn't like this pick at the time, and he hasn't made me change my mind. Feels like we went for a super safe 2nd pairing guy, instead of swinging for the fences for a franchise talent. Very disappointing to draft that high and get a floor player with no upside.

this is a poor take

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Maybe it is, but Hughes is our future (current) #1C. Lindy hasn’t stopped him from playing to his strengths even if Jack’s defensive game isn’t up there yet.

A forward's best defense is taking the puck back away, which Jack is very good at. Defensemen aren't really quite the same thing. For example, a d-man can't just blindly pinch aggressively because they might be the last man back. That will almost never be the case for a forward. It's just little things like this that Ruff is probably referring to.

 

[Lou is God]

I don't know what game you watched but Nemec was making plays no ordinary dman (especially a rookie) would even think about making. Very far from a "safe 2nd pair guy". Could he use some work? Yes but this kid is going to be special because he has the confidence and skill to do whatever the hell he wants. It's just a matter of him gaining some experience. He has a ceiling to be a dominant top pair dman. He also shows he has no problem not taking shit being he threw some punches last night (something I never expected out of him)

All of this. These preseason games I always try to focus on one or two prospects when I go to one of the games and last night it was him and Holtz, and I saw the same thing, he was not afraid to try to make plays that only veterans make. You can see how he thinks on the ice. Nemec might be on a ton of highlight reels but you know what other defenseman isn't either - Adam Fox.

Not saying he's going to be another Fox, but if he reaches his top ceiling, that's the kind of player we're looking at. And a perfect compliment to Luke's game BTW.

 

[My3Sons]

All of this. These preseason games I always try to focus on one or two prospects when I go to one of the games and last night it was him and Holtz, and I saw the same thing, he was not afraid to try to make plays that only veterans make. You can see how he thinks on the ice. Nemec might be on a ton of highlight reels but you know what other defenseman isn't either - Adam Fox.

Not saying he's going to be another Fox, but if he reaches his top ceiling, that's the kind of player we're looking at. And a perfect compliment to Luke's game BTW.

If Nemec is anything close to that level of player it’s a home run.

 

[Rusty7550]

Best moments from Rangers game. There is a whole thread

 

[xyzed]

I loved this one. Most players would just send the puck along the boards (after the faceoff)

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

His processing is at a different level. Some players take a while to make a play, others are extremely quick to make a play....Nemec has made the play in his head before the puck is on his stick. I know people will think this is a lazy comparison but I see a lot of Nicklas Lidstrom in his game. Hot take, probably. I was just dreaming about Hughes and Nemec joining NJ for the playoffs.

 

[NJDfan86]

Nemec had some great zone denials last night, he fairly consistently stopped opposing players at the blue line.

Struggled a bit with the forecheck but that is to be expected, faster players with less space. Looked like he was reading and anticipating the pressure but still needs time to adjust to the pace.

 

[Devs3cups]

I loved this one. Most players would just send the puck along the boards (after the faceoff)

Small play that goes unnoticed but that shows his poise and IQ are off the charts.

 

[Scorcho]

His processing is at a different level. Some players take a while to make a play, others are extremely quick to make a play....Nemec has made the play in his head before the puck is on his stick. I know people will think this is a lazy comparison but I see a lot of Nicklas Lidstrom in his game. Hot take, probably. I was just dreaming about Hughes and Nemec joining NJ for the playoffs.

giving me larsson ptsd - hopefully nemec becomes what we thought we had in Adam

 

[Devs3cups]

giving me larsson ptsd - hopefully nemec becomes what we thought we had in Adam

Nemec’s offensive abilities and skating are better than Larsson’s were at his age from what I can remember. They’re not really comparable stylistically I find. I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[SKNJD9]

Other than wearing the same # he doesn't remind me of AL at all

 

[Bone Density]

Come on, Nemec is a totally different animal than Larsson. Foot speed alone is massive gap. Once he bulks up, the sky is the limit for Simon. Especially if he can get some power behind his shot to become even more of a threat.

Adam's lack of mobility did him in. The similarities begin and end at right handed D that wears 5.

 

[Guttersniped]

 

[Eggtimer]

Hughes brothers plus Nemec brothers = 4 Cups in the next 10 years for the Devils.

 

[Nubmer6]

Hughes brothers plus Nemec brothers = 4 Cups in the next 10 years for the Devils.

Oh brother.

 

[Devils731]

Hughes brothers plus Nemec brothers = 4 Cups in the next 10 years for the Devils.

Get Brandt Clarke over here too while we are at it. Adam Boqvist as well. Tage Thompson just signed a long deal but the league can’t deny the Devils brothers.

 

[Eggtimer]

Get Brandt Clarke over here too while we are at it. Adam Boqvist as well. Tage Thompson just signed a long deal but the league can’t deny the Devils brothers.

Already have the legendary Bratt brothers , technically that’s all we need but collecting brother combos will be our thing.
Forgot to add McLeod as well from Edmonton and Mercer’s bro is a goalie….

My take on drafting Nemec - I wasn’t happy at all when we picked him. But after giving it some thought , I think with how the game is played now, having studs like Hughes Nemec Hamilton and the supporting cast on D , I think we will be a very hard team to beat.
He wasn’t the sexiest pick in the draft but I think he has a very good chance of improving the Devils as a team more so than a lot of other picks for that dradr year.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Best moments from Rangers game. There is a whole thread

Who was that he deked out by the boards? Was that an actual nhl player.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

He wasn’t the sexiest pick in the draft but I think he has a very good chance of improving the Devils as a team more so than a lot of other picks for that dradr year.

Not sure what makes you think he wasn't a "sexy" pick. Other realistic options were Wright, Jiricek, and Gauthier. Nemec has more flair and playmaking than Gauthier and Jiricek and potentially Wright as well, but I won't go there. People need to stop thinking Nemec is some safe stay at home defenseman.

I was extremely shocked Fitz drafted Nemec because his type of player is Jiricek or Gauthier.

 

[Xirik]

Not sure what makes you think he wasn't a "sexy" pick. Other realistic options were Wright, Jiricek, and Gauthier. Nemec has more flair and playmaking than Gauthier and Jiricek and potentially Wright as well, but I won't go there. People need to stop thinking Nemec is some safe stay at home defenseman.

I was extremely shocked Fitz drafted Nemec because his type of player is Jiricek or Gauthier.

Defensemen are rarely sexy picks unless they have a Booming points shot like Jiricek.

Though that is sort of different for Devils fans as we watched the Devils play with great defence for such a long time that it turned into a fetish.

 

[Devil made me do it]

My take on drafting Nemec - I wasn’t happy at all when we picked him. But after giving it some thought , I think with how the game is played now, having studs like Hughes Nemec Hamilton and the supporting cast on D , I think we will be a very hard team to beat.
He wasn’t the sexiest pick in the draft but I think he has a very good chance of improving the Devils as a team more so than a lot of other picks for that dradr year.

He will end up being the best player of the draft. Slafkovsky is looking like a bust. Has not impressed at all in pre-season. Not the case with Nemec. He looks the part and has shown flashes consistently. I don't remember an 18 year old defensive prospect being so mature and polished in their game. Ever. His positioning on the ice, the way he tracks the play, his poise, the vision, the puckhandling, the passing are all elite. He has already shown this in pre-season. He is agressive, he gets physical. The kid is the total package.

 

[TBF1972]

Oh brother.

does lindy ruff has a brother?

 

[Bone Density]

Did Ruff have a brother?

It's a pretty sad story.

Lindy Ruff recalls every detail of that night. He was bowling with his best friend, Mike Ramsey, at Parkside Lanes in North Tonawanda. It was Dec. 30, 1986, the Christmas holidays. He even remembers he was in the seventh frame when the owner, his buddy Jim Lewis, came up to say he had an important call at the desk.
Ruff went to the phone, while Lewis told Ramsey the awful news. Ruff knew it was bad as soon as he grabbed the receiver and heard his wife of 18 months sobbing at the other end.

"Tell me what it is," he said.
"I can't tell you," Gaye Ruff said. "Just come home right away."
"I know it's bad," he said. "You've got to tell me."

"It's Brent," she said. "He was killed in a bus accident."

RUFF'S WELL OF COMPASSION RUNS DEEP MEMORY OF LATE BROTHER IMPRINTED ON COACH'S LEADERSHIP STYLE

Lindy Ruff recalls every detail of that night. He was bowling with his best friend, Mike Ramsey, at Parkside Lanes in North Tonawanda. It was Dec. 30, 1986, the Christmas

buffalonews.com

 

[RSeen]

Hughes brothers plus Nemec brothers = 4 Cups in the next 10 years for the Devils.

Nemec looks very mature for his age, legitimately looks like he only needs about a season of development before being an NHLer. He will probably need to work on some of the details like when to pinch but its exciting to have him and Luke coming to an already deep D group (even after excluding Severson who is likely gone).