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

[My3Sons]

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.

It’s way premature to write off any pick at 18. First or last.

 

[Guttersniped]

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.

This is one reason I’m very happy we didn’t get Slafkovsky, I knew he would take time and people would dump on him early.

 

[Hisch13r]

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.

Slaf hasn't been good and Nemec has been better but you're overrating Nemec's performance so far. He's been alright but it's not like he's been great. Definitely needs a year

 

[Devs3cups]

Slaf hasn't been good and Nemec has been better but you're overrating Nemec's performance so far. He's been alright but it's not like he's been great. Definitely needs a year

He hasn’t dominated games yet obviously, but to me, Nemec has shown he belongs. He hasn’t looked out of place in his games, which is obviously a good sign for such a young D-man. He looks poised and his skating, calmness and IQ are evident strengths that will only improve with time.

I don’t think he’d struggle that much if he played in the NHL this season, but with that being said, I don’t think he should play a big chunk of the season with us. Let him marinate in the AHL and further develop his strengths and work on his weaknesses. There’s no need to rush or pressure him right out of the gate.

We have a good one in Nemec folks. Exciting times.

 

[Nocashstyle]

He hasn’t dominated games yet obviously, but to me, Nemec has shown he belongs. He hasn’t looked out of place in his games, which is obviously a good sign for such a young D-man. He looks poised and his skating, calmness and IQ are evident strengths that will only improve with time.

I don’t think he’d struggle that much if he played in the NHL this season, but with that being said, I don’t think he should play a big chunk of the season with us. Let him marinate in the AHL and further develop his strengths and work on his weaknesses. There’s no need to rush or pressure him right out of the gate.

We have a good one in Nemec folks. Exciting times.

Exactly, could he keep up at the NHL level? Yes, it looks like it. Would he actively excel? Maybe some games. But no point in having him in NJ long term this season just because he could “probably” play well enough most nights.

 

[Eggtimer]

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.

By sexier I meant players like Cooley Wright . Forwards with flair . Not saying Nemec is a boring Dman but rather the position in general isn’t like a goal scoring forward or flashy player like Cooley. I am not crapping on Nemec . I was just upset at very first when Slafkovsky was picked #1 and assumed we would take a Wright but I am feeling very hood now that we made a very good pick with Nemec .

As far as his play so far , I think he has looked very good considering the position he plays . Even recent high end defensive prospects take at least a year after their draft to excel . Q.Hughes , Dahlin , Power , even Makar took a year after their draft before they looked above average .

 

[Nocashstyle]

By sexier I meant players like Cooley Wright . Forwards with flair . Not saying Nemec is a boring Dman but rather the position in general isn’t like a goal scoring forward or flashy player like Cooley. I am not crapping on Nemec . I was just upset at very first when Slafkovsky was picked #1 and assumed we would take a Wright but I am feeling very hood now that we made a very good pick with Nemec .

Not to beat a dead horse, but the fact that MTL and AZ, who are both incredibly weak in C depth, both passed on Wright…that should say something.

 

[SlafySZN]

Slaf hasn't been good and Nemec has been better but you're overrating Nemec's performance so far. He's been alright but it's not like he's been great. Definitely needs a year

Slaf has been better and better during pre-season and his last 3 games against NHL players has been good. He’s adjusting and adapting pretty quick.

It’s even longer for defensemen, Nemec will be fine.

 

[Rynewed]

So hows Nemec been up North?

 

[Bcap88]

So hows Nemec been up North?

He’s looked ok in pre season, we will see how he looks in the ahl but many of us aren’t worrying. He just needs probably a year of seasoning. He will most likely get his cup of coffee in the nhl at some point this year due to injuries

 

[vlady]

Simon's own column in the Slovak media
Use google translate. I'm too lazy to translate it all

 

[Forge]

 

[markog]

Does anyone know how minutes per game he plays? I looked at AHL.com and I couldn't find it.

 

[Devs3cups]

Great game for the kid!

 

[Devils090]

OH BABY

 

[UticaHockey]

Does anyone know how minutes per game he plays? I looked at AHL.com and I couldn't find it.

The AHL doesn't publish time on ice stats. Nemec it getting plenty of minutes though. Top 4 at even strength plus 2nd PP unit and on the PK rotation.

 

[HBK27]

Wheeler had some comments on Nemec in his latest mailbag, FWIW...

Four of the top six picks from the 2022 draft are playing in the NHL or AHL. Who’s looking the best and who’s looking a little underwhelming? — Logesh B.

The “Feeling Good About Yourself” meter, would probably look something like this:

1. Juraj Slafkvosky
2. David Jiricek
3. Shane Wright
4. Simon Nemec

Between Slafkovsky’s injury, Jiricek’s tough first couple of games in the NHL, Wright’s usage, and Nemec’s not looking like himself really at all, I wouldn’t say things have gone swimmingly for any of them. But Slafkovsky still has his confidence and the Habs seem happy with him, and Jiricek looked really good in the AHL before his promotion, so those two have that going for them.

...

And then there’s Nemec, whose reports out of the Buffalo rookie tournament, his first training camp, and the AHL have not been positive. He has struggled, in particular, with two things:

1. Running the power play, where he has looked unsure of his strengths and uncomfortable walking the point
2. Forcing decisions with the puck

That last point has been bit of a shocker to those who watched him last year, when his poise, reads, and choices were such a strength. I’m still confident it’ll come there though.

 

[Forge]

Wheeler had some comments on Nemec in his latest mailbag, FWIW...

Four of the top six picks from the 2022 draft are playing in the NHL or AHL. Who’s looking the best and who’s looking a little underwhelming? — Logesh B.

The “Feeling Good About Yourself” meter, would probably look something like this:

1. Juraj Slafkvosky
2. David Jiricek
3. Shane Wright
4. Simon Nemec

Between Slafkovsky’s injury, Jiricek’s tough first couple of games in the NHL, Wright’s usage, and Nemec’s not looking like himself really at all, I wouldn’t say things have gone swimmingly for any of them. But Slafkovsky still has his confidence and the Habs seem happy with him, and Jiricek looked really good in the AHL before his promotion, so those two have that going for them.

...

And then there’s Nemec, whose reports out of the Buffalo rookie tournament, his first training camp, and the AHL have not been positive. He has struggled, in particular, with two things:

1. Running the power play, where he has looked unsure of his strengths and uncomfortable walking the point
2. Forcing decisions with the puck

That last point has been bit of a shocker to those who watched him last year, when his poise, reads, and choices were such a strength. I’m still confident it’ll come there though.

Seems not great.

 

[Hisch13r]

Seems not great.

I'm expecting 2 years before he is ready to make an impact

 

[HBK27]

I'm expecting 2 years before he is ready to make an impact

Yeah, it's still early and he's adjusting to coming over to North America as well.

Might not be the worst thing to have Luke and Nemec's contracts staggered by a year either, but still a long ways to go before seeing how things play out.

 

[Hisch13r]

Yeah, it's still early and he's adjusting to coming over to North America as well.

Might not be the worst thing to have Luke and Nemec's contracts staggered by a year either, but still a long ways to go before seeing how things play out.

I've pretty much always expected at least 2 years anyway. Playing at 19 is a lot to ask.

 

[Forge]

I'm expecting 2 years before he is ready to make an impact

I'll be interested to see what we do with that third RHD spot next year. Don't want to force Nemec if he's not there (and obviously there's a bit to go before we even get to know that), so I guess maybe just Smith on the right side? I think he has an extensive history playing his off hand.

Feels like Walsh is mostly a top line AHLer so I don't know that I'm expecting him with the big league club.

 

[Hisch13r]

I'll be interested to see what we do with that third RHD spot next year. Don't want to force Nemec if he's not there (and obviously there's a bit to go before we even get to know that), so I guess maybe just Smith on the right side? I think he has an extensive history playing his off hand.

Feels like Walsh is mostly a top line AHLer so I don't know that I'm expecting him with the big league club.

Even just finding a Smith type for right side and giving him a similar deal wouldn't be the worst thing. Then have that guy as the 7th D the following year when Nemec is ready

 

[HBK27]

I'll be interested to see what we do with that third RHD spot next year. Don't want to force Nemec if he's not there (and obviously there's a bit to go before we even get to know that), so I guess maybe just Smith on the right side? I think he has an extensive history playing his off hand.

Feels like Walsh is mostly a top line AHLer so I don't know that I'm expecting him with the big league club.

I feel like too many people are writing off Luke Hughes as an option on the right side. That's where he's been playing (rather successfully) for years now.

 

[Devils731]

When I’ve gotten to see Nemec play he’s been a total cowboy on the ice; which is why he’s so intriguing because he’s been willing to try so much.

I haven’t gotten to see his AHL games yet but it doesn’t seem like a total surprise that he’s unsure of his decision making as the coaches try to get his risk/reward thinking in proper order and he’s doing it against faster and better players than ever before.

I didn’t think the prospects games were concerning so it’s possible I just feel differently than how the people Wheeler talked to do.

Also, I’m old so I remember Niedermayer coming up as a total cowboy, looking totally uncomfortable as Lemaire road his decision making, and Nieds coming out of that crucible as a force. Not that Nemec is Niedermayer but I’m comfortable with seeing the player be uncomfortable as they learn.