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

[Hisch13r]

Adam Fox is 24 and his defense “needs work” but guess what he’s one of the best defenseman in the league. Nemec can skate and facilitate like a point guard. Very excited to have him in our system.

Fox's defense does not need work.

 

[Devils090]

I think when we moved up it was Slaf or bust, Montreal took him so oh well

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

Nah, I'd rather stay awake and b*tch some more.

I'm on a roll.

I was about to suggest you to calm down but.... have at it!

 

[NJDevs26]

Right.

You take Shane F'N Wright at #2.

Then you find Defensive Defenseman later on in the draft.

Or you find them in Free Agency

Or the Scrap heap.

It's easier to find those types of defenseman than it is to find Shane F'n Wright players (yes, it's easy to find wingers but I'm talking about Wingers that don't suck)

And what were the questions on Wright really…that his production was down after a pandemic year of not playing? Gee that won’t impact a 17 year old, having a full year of not playing. This organization zigs when it should zag.

 

[Triumph]

Fitz literally cited having a RHD who could shoot as part of his rationale

Yeah, and? How is this an issue? You want guys who can help your team.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

We should now be set at center and Defense for the future.

Goaltending and a good winger or two now.

 

[Devils090]

Fox's defense does not need work.

It’s his “weakness”

 

[severian]

All the people complaining about this pick would’ve done the same if we picked Makar in 2017 which would’ve been more of a reach. I’m not saying he’ll be as good as Makar but I really like Nemec and this is huge for our defensive core and future.

I respect them not just taking who they’re expected to take and instead going with the guy they want.

The only thing that bothers me about this pick is that I wonder if the idea of taking Hischier over Makar was part of the decision making. Ie trying to make up for a previous “blunder”.

 

[Emperoreddy]

People were bitching about overpaying Severson. If you don't want to pay him then we needed to replace him with a high end RD

 

[glenwo2]

It seems obvious they didn’t have a real conviction after Slaf, passed on Wright because he didn’t fit a need and passed on a trade cause there wasn’t anyone willing to deal so they boxed themselves in.

"drafting for need".

I never understood that rationale ESPECIALLY in a position where you're drafting #2.

 

[Sgt Brylin]

This.

We are going to regret this for quite awhile.

Can't wait to hear about how successful Shane is up in Seattle scoring goals and assists while we "wait" for Nemec to learn how to play Defense. Oh f'n joy.

Cmon man, get over it. ONE random guy report says he can't play D, literally every serious outlet praises his play in all three zones against men. And you choose to latch onto random guy over every serious outlet?

 

[AfroThunder396]

Tell me what in Fitz or Castron’s track record would lead you to believe they should get the same benefit of the doubt a la Yzerman who built most of the superteam in Tampa?

As I said before, Stillman is the only bad pick he's made and that was basically a 2nd rounder.

Holtz just had a historic AHL season, Luke just had a historic NCAA season, Mercer made the NHL as a teenager. Muk is over playing in North America and has validated his status as a 1st round prospect. Jack and Nico have turned into exactly who who thought they would be.

Castron also found Bratt, Sharangovich, Gritsyuk in late rounds and has created plenty of quality depth that is still developing in guys like McCarthy, Moynihan, Thompson, Clarke, Okhotiuk, Salminen, Daws, etc.

I really don't know what you're on about, you're literally just inventing fake narratives in your brain to be mad at. He's a bad pick because Fitz said he's right handed? That's all you have?

 

[Hisch13r]

It’s his “weakness”

It's not though. The guy has tremendous D metrics

 

[Devs3cups]

"drafting for need".

I never understood that rationale ESPECIALLY in a position where you're drafting #2.

Nemec was most likely higher on their board.

 

[13BearerOfHope]

I had my heart set on something big, but my most accounts Simon Nemec is a future top pair RD. He's pretty elite. I'm more surprised than disappointed at this point. I do doubt that the Devils are going to be making the big moves I was expecting. I don't expect to see any major additions at wing this year. I think we'll stink again and wind up high in another draft next year.

We will keep Bratt and overpay for an average goalie. We’ll def stink again. BUT: as of 2023/4 I think we will be in the playoffs. I am patient. LGD

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Going to have a very mobile backend going forward. Hamilton, Severson, Hughes, Nemec. Yowza.

As an unrelated topic, for any poster that thinks Trotz would consider the Devils I do not think that is the D core he is looking for

 

[Captain3rdLine]

And what were the questions on Wright really…that his production was down after a pandemic year of not playing? Gee that won’t impact a 17 year old, having a full year of not playing. This organization zigs when it should zag.

We’ll that was part of it but it was more than that. I don’t really agree with all of it but there isn’t a whole lot of dynamic element to his game and some question his offensive upside.

The thing is no one can suggest that he didn’t get drafted higher because of his production because it wasn’t that bad and was much better than Slafkovsky’s and probably close to or better than Cooley’s.

But, I think it was more about other teams liking other players more than it was about them not liking Wright.

The only thing that bothers me about this pick is that I wonder if the idea of taking Hischier over Makar was part of the decision making. Ie trying to make up for a previous “blunder”.

I highly doubt that. It’s not the same staff and that would make no sense. They’re completely different players.

 

[NJDevs26]

Yeah, and? How is this an issue? You want guys who can help your team.

You don’t pick eighteen year olds because of need, period. The way everyone accused Shero of doing with Zacha and McLeod. Only this time there’s more tangible proof Fitz did that.

 

[OmNomNom]

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Cmon man, get over it. ONE random guy report says he can't play D, literally every serious outlet praises his play in all three zones against men. And you choose to latch onto random guy over every serious outlet?

This. He’s latching on to one report that says his D is bad from some random outlet when literally almost every other one says he’s solid defensively.

Just looking for reasons to complain. They wouldn’t have taken him 2nd if they thought his D was terrible.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The only thing that bothers me about this pick is that I wonder if the idea of taking Hischier over Makar was part of the decision making. Ie trying to make up for a previous “blunder”.

0% chance that came into it at all.

 

[TF1970]

People can bitch if they want. I’m onboard. Kids gonna be a stud I bet.

 

[DerekDevils30]

How does it feel being a midget who was drafted only because you shoot right? /sarcasm

 

[glenwo2]

Hey! We got a talented draft pick that is now a member of our organization. Show some love! Give him a chance to prove ya'll right or wrong. Is it what you wanted? Fine. But we got something good. Something that, pre-lottery, we would have been happy to have.

I'll give him a chance.

Only because I have no choice but to give him a chance.

I hope for everyone's sake here that he develops into the player you all think he can be.

Fitz put his ass on the line basically with this pick.

Let's see what happens going forward.....sigh....

 

[MasterofGrond]

nobody was taking makar over the top 2

anybody claiming otherwise, even "insiders" is full of it, sry