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

[Devs3cups]

I really like quanthockey for stuff like this. I haven't noticed any major errors or anything, and you can separate by age, league, position.

18-Year Old AHL Defensemen - Cumulative Regular Season Stats

18-year old AHL defenseman cumulative stats. AHL defenseman statistics segmented by age group.

www.quanthockey.com

Thanks a lot!!

 

[forceten]

So that's great! It seems like he's on target then to make the team next year?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Looks like Utica has the 2nd lowest goal total in the league if the stats I’m looking at are correct. That + not getting PP time = you’re not gonna put up points. I’m glad they’re focusing on his defense first.

 

[RSeen]

It would be a big asset if Nemec becomes capable of playing PK minutes in the NHL in a few years to take pressure off Hamilton and/or Luke. I don't see Nemec getting anything beyond PP2 time anyways so it will be helpful to have him be able to be strong defensively.

 

[Ripshot 43]

“We also had turkey. It tasted like our meatloaf since we ate it with mashed potatoes”

What’s up with Slovakian turkey?

Slovakian Turkeys been hanging out with the cows a bit too much.

 

[Rhodes 81]

Looks like Utica has the 2nd lowest goal total in the league if the stats I’m looking at are correct. That + not getting PP time = you’re not gonna put up points. I’m glad they’re focusing on his defense first.

Realistically if he makes the team next year, he would be behind Hamilton, Marino, and we can presume Hughes for powerplay time. He will need to fill Severson's role of providing what you can even strength but likely playing PK.

PK in general could be an awkward spot in 2023. You don't want Hamilton drawing a ton of minutes there because you want him rested for even strength and PP. Marino has been fine on the PK but I wouldn't say that is his strong suit either. Could end up having some weird pairings there between Seigenthaler, Smith, Nemec, Bahl, and Graves if he's kept. Nemec being reliable on the PK would be huge.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

If Nemec can become a defensive beast, and then also work on his one timer to become a threat on the half wall on the powerplay? that would be pretty sick.

......................Hischier
Nemec........ Bratt...... J. Hughes
...................L. Hughes

That'd be a really fun powerplay if Nemec could just unload bombs.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Realistically if he makes the team next year, he would be behind Hamilton, Marino, and we can presume Hughes for powerplay time. He will need to fill Severson's role of providing what you can even strength but likely playing PK.

PK in general could be an awkward spot in 2023. You don't want Hamilton drawing a ton of minutes there because you want him rested for even strength and PP. Marino has been fine on the PK but I wouldn't say that is his strong suit either. Could end up having some weird pairings there between Seigenthaler, Smith, Nemec, Bahl, and Graves if he's kept. Nemec being reliable on the PK would be huge.

I’m as excited as anyone for the future, but I can see this team taking small steps back before they make the big leap towards a championship level team as we break in the kids on the blue line. Luckily we have guys to shoulder the big minutes, but there will certainly be growing pains. Really hope Luke comes in ready to go.

 

[Guttersniped]

How Luke does when he gets here will decide things. The same with Nemec when he gets a call up.

 

[Guttersniped]

Realistically if he makes the team next year, he would be behind Hamilton, Marino, and we can presume Hughes for powerplay time. He will need to fill Severson's role of providing what you can even strength but likely playing PK.

PK in general could be an awkward spot in 2023. You don't want Hamilton drawing a ton of minutes there because you want him rested for even strength and PP. Marino has been fine on the PK but I wouldn't say that is his strong suit either. Could end up having some weird pairings there between Seigenthaler, Smith, Nemec, Bahl, and Graves if he's kept. Nemec being reliable on the PK would be huge.

Marino is used more on the PK than anyone else this season. They’re breaking in him with major minutes to replace Severson, who has had a big drop in his PK role.

The big loss on the blue line now would be Graves. He has a bigger role on PK, and much more importantly, he plays brutal shutdown minutes with Marino.

The one reason the result’s of the Dougie/Siegenthaler pair is so insane is that pair used more to produce while Marino/Graves do way more of the dirty work.

Not sure you can just pencil in a rookie to take those sort of minutes with Marino.

Fitz has done a fantastic job of managing the defense core, I’m really just going to sit back and watch him do more his magic.

 

[imMagnum]

No doubt Fitz drafted Nemec with the intention of him playing PP. Nemec is certainly going to get plenty of chances playing QB, even with Hamilton and Luke. I really don't think there is any intention to have Nemec play PK in the NHL, especially in the near future. If they wanted a two-way/defensive defenseman, they would've drafted Jiricek.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Marino is used more on the PK than anyone else this season. They’re breaking in him with major minutes to replace Severson, who has had a big drop in his PK role.

View attachment 615532

The big loss on the blue line now would be Graves. He has a bigger role on PK, and much more importantly, he plays brutal shutdown minutes with Marino.

The one reason the result’s of the Dougie/Siegenthaler pair is so insane is that pair used more to produce while Marino/Graves do way more of the dirty work.

Not sure you can just pencil in a rookie to take those sort of minutes with Marino.

Fitz has done a fantastic job of managing the defense core, I’m really just going to sit back and watch him do more his magic.

Yea Graves eating hard minutes this year is a blessing and a curse. I think a lot of us were good letting him walk, and yes he does have his warts, but what he does is going to be hard to replace.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

On the other end of the ice, Nemec might get some 2nd unit pp in the near/mid term in NJ, but unlikely he runs the top unit for a bunch of years if ever.

I don't think Nemec ever gets #1 pp in NJ.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Realistically if he makes the team next year, he would be behind Hamilton, Marino, and we can presume Hughes for powerplay time. He will need to fill Severson's role of providing what you can even strength but likely playing PK.

PK in general could be an awkward spot in 2023. You don't want Hamilton drawing a ton of minutes there because you want him rested for even strength and PP. Marino has been fine on the PK but I wouldn't say that is his strong suit either. Could end up having some weird pairings there between Seigenthaler, Smith, Nemec, Bahl, and Graves if he's kept. Nemec being reliable on the PK would be huge.

I'm pretty confident he'll be better than Severson in that role even next year. His offense may not be as good, but his defense honestly can't be any worse.

 

[devilsblood]

I don't think Nemec ever gets #1 pp in NJ.

Def very possible.

But it kind of sounds like Luke, because of his skating, is at his best at 5v5. PP is less skating dependent, and I could see Nemec having a skillset that is more conducive.

 

[devilsblood]

If Nemec can become a defensive beast, and then also work on his one timer to become a threat on the half wall on the powerplay? that would be pretty sick.

......................Hischier
Nemec........ Bratt...... J. Hughes
...................L. Hughes

That'd be a really fun powerplay if Nemec could just unload bombs.

If the team were to go with that Bratt Nico alignment, which I could see, I'd think the optimal one timer option opposite Hughes would be Holtz.

 

[devilsblood]

No doubt Fitz drafted Nemec with the intention of him playing PP. Nemec is certainly going to get plenty of chances playing QB, even with Hamilton and Luke. I really don't think there is any intention to have Nemec play PK in the NHL, especially in the near future. If they wanted a two-way/defensive defenseman, they would've drafted Jiricek.

Nemec playing top unit PK in Utica is a pretty clear signal that they will look to use him on the PK in the NHL.

Now he's not playing PP currently, which could also be a signal, but I think he's a potential option, but there is a logjam of potential PP options looking ahead over the next 3-5 years.

 

[Lou Bloom]

No doubt Fitz drafted Nemec with the intention of him playing PP. Nemec is certainly going to get plenty of chances playing QB, even with Hamilton and Luke. I really don't think there is any intention to have Nemec play PK in the NHL, especially in the near future. If they wanted a two-way/defensive defenseman, they would've drafted Jiricek.

Both Nemec and Jiricek project to be two way/all situations type of defenseman. Which one you preferred depended on what skills you coveted, Nemec was the better skater and had the better IQ, while Jiricek had the better physical tools and played a more physical style of game.

 

[My3Sons]

Marino is used more on the PK than anyone else this season. They’re breaking in him with major minutes to replace Severson, who has had a big drop in his PK role.

View attachment 615532

The big loss on the blue line now would be Graves. He has a bigger role on PK, and much more importantly, he plays brutal shutdown minutes with Marino.

The one reason the result’s of the Dougie/Siegenthaler pair is so insane is that pair used more to produce while Marino/Graves do way more of the dirty work.

Not sure you can just pencil in a rookie to take those sort of minutes with Marino.

Fitz has done a fantastic job of managing the defense core, I’m really just going to sit back and watch him do more his magic.

So NJ acquired an Ivy League trained right handed defender from PIT who is offensively challenged but plays good defense? Wow. What an original idea!!

 

[ninetyeight]

I would definitely want more production from him, but I also want way more production from the rest of the utica guys. Hard to rack up points if nobody else is scoring either. By comparison I think Jiricek's team has like 6 guys ppg or over ppg pace.

What matters the most is him improving his defence game to nhl level. Points are cool, but we've seen bunch of AHL, NCAA, CHL.. defencemen score big there only to be defensively unreliable in the NHL.

 

[My3Sons]

I would definitely want more production from him, but I also want way more production from the rest of the utica guys. Hard to rack up points if nobody else is scoring either. By comparison I think Jiricek's team has like 6 guys ppg or over ppg pace.

What matters the most is him improving his defence game to nhl level. Points are cool, but we've seen bunch of AHL, NCAA, CHL.. defencemen score big there only to be defensively unreliable in the NHL.

Cough** Walsh **cough

 

[Guadana]

Cough** Walsh **cough

“Walsh”as a word by self is look like a sound for coughing or something like that… it's like sharply sucking in snot.

please, if there are some people with “Walsh” surname, sorry. I just never liked the guy and his game.

 

[My3Sons]

“Walsh”as a word by self is look like a sound for coughing or something like that… it's like sharply sucking in snot.

please, if there are some people with “Walsh” surname, sorry. I just never liked the guy and his game.

As a word it plays different for a native US English speaker. The "sh" isn't sharp or anything. As a defender he is just not quite where he needs to be it seems. He has a bit of time left to get it together but it's never been his game.

 

[Guadana]

As a word it plays different for a native US English speaker. The "sh" isn't sharp or anything. As a defender he is just not quite where he needs to be it seems. He has a bit of time left to get it together but it's never been his game.

I could demonstrate consonance, but perhaps this is beyond my personal limit of content acceptability. In the end Nemec did not deserve this in his topic.

 

[mdj12784]

I just want a J. Hughes L. Hughes o.t Asap