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

[Captain3rdLine]

Nemec is looking solid but it’s okay to admit Jiricek looks more promising so far. I preferred Wright at the draft and he has been very underwhelming in this tournament and in limited NHL minutes. It’s still way too early to tell with any of these kids

That’s your opinion. Jiricek has developed well so far but I personally still think Nemec looks more promising.

Jiricek has had a more noticeable start but not necessarily better. They’ve been in very different situations and roles at the AHL level and World Juniors. If you just look exclusively at the stats without watching and/or taking in necessary context you could assume Jiricek is more promising so far.

As you said it’s way to early to tell but the people acting like Jiricek is better right now because of this tournament are just being dense. It’s arguable who’s even been the better player in this tournament given their situations. You reverse them and who knows how it looks.

 

[My3Sons]

I agree that Jiricek has performed ridiculously well, but Nemec was also superior in the WJC. However, he was part of a less structured team than Jiricek, while playing with only one other defenceman who has NHL potential - Strbak. So he took heavy minutes, which often had a negative effect on him (especially in terms of fatigue and unnecessary mistakes, which he would have avoided if he wasn´t tired). Despite this, he clearly stood out among his peers and was dominant. In other words, a joy to watch. The debate between him and Jirick is like choosing between Makar and Hedman (not literally, of course). You simply want to have such players in your team, and it doesn't matter which of them it is.

Btw, do you think Devils will let him go to the WCH? We will badly need him there but I doubt it. I guess he is going to stick with the first team in case of injuries.

If NJ makes the playoffs I would expect Nemec to be one of the extras who practices with the team even if he doesn't play. I imagine the Devils would want him exposed to that intense environment rather than playing another WC.

 

[PWiz30]

Luke was also snakebit quite a bit I thought. Dude set up so many chances and had some very good looks. He could have 4-5 more points. Just tonight, he hit a flukey post in the 1st and he had an assist on the first disallowed goal.

I think Luke’s game against Slovakia got WAY more shit than deserved. He was awful tonight and bad against the Latvian’s. The Slovakia game he had like a bad moment but absolutely took over the game in the 3rd

I guess I just kind of take Luke's offensive production for granted, at least at this level. I would have liked to have seen more consistent evidence that he's making some progress on the defensive side of his game during the tournament since I don't get a chance to watch Michigan's games very often.

I thought he was really good in the Switzerland and Finland games though, and while he could have had a better tournament overall, that doesn't even begin to make a dent in my optimism about his future.

 

[Hisch13r]

I guess I just kind of take Luke's offensive production for granted, at least at this level. I would have liked to have seen more consistent evidence that he's making some progress on the defensive side of his game during the tournament since I don't get a chance to watch Michigan's games very often.

I thought he was really good in the Switzerland and Finland games though, and while he could have had a better tournament overall, that doesn't even begin to make a dent in my optimism about his future.

I know numbers wise at least on Lassi’s cards Luke’s defense was better last year at Michigan

 

[My3Sons]

Luke just took a shot from the middle of the o zone and then managed to corral his rebound at the left point. He reminds you of Niedermayer at times with his skating.

 

[PWiz30]

I know numbers wise at least on Lassi’s cards Luke’s defense was better last year at Michigan

I will say this. I've got the bronze medal game on one of my monitors while I get some work done on the others and he's stepped up big since Sweden briefly took the lead at the beginning of the 3rd.

 

[imMagnum]

It was a response to an advanced stats post on Nemec.

This card isn't surprising but it is certainly disappointing. I was really hoping he'd begin activating in his own end. His low danger wristers from the point aren't enough of an offensive weapon to offset his lazy D play. I'd love little more than to be wrong on Nemec but he's got quite a few hurdles to climb before becoming a full-time NHLer.

 

[Devs3cups]

This card isn't surprising but it is certainly disappointing. I was really hoping he'd begin activating in his own end. His low danger wristers from the point aren't enough of an offensive weapon to offset his lazy D play. I'd love little more than to be wrong on Nemec but he's got quite a few hurdles to climb before becoming a full-time NHLer.

Have you watched a single game of his this WJC? Genuinely wondering, not trying to be a dick lol.

 

[imMagnum]

Have you watched a single game of his this WJC? Genuinely wondering, not trying to be a dick lol.

Lol I know you're not. I saw his first two over the holidays. You saw them all I think? Did you see something I didn't?

 

[Devs3cups]

Lol I know you're not. I saw his first two over the holidays. You saw them all I think? Did you see something I didn't?

Nemec had a good tournament I thought. Being PPG with his supporting cast is very impressive and you can’t downplay the fact he played 26 minutes a night.

Slovakia had a pretty weak team and Nemec had enormous responsibilities on it. I’d recommend reading the WJC Thread, lots of insights on there. I came out of the tournament being encouraged by Nemec’s IQ, poise, offensive abilities and capacity to play HUGE minutes with a subpar supporting cast and still produce. He was fine defensively, made a few blunders but as I said, playing 26 minutes a night isn’t easy for any 18-year old. We have a good one in Nemec.

 

[imMagnum]

Nemec had a good tournament I thought. Being PPG with his supporting cast is very impressive and you can’t downplay the fact he played 26 minutes a night.

Slovakia had a pretty weak team and Nemec had enormous responsibilities on it. I’d recommend reading the WJC Thread, lots of insights on there. I came out of the tournament being encouraged by Nemec’s IQ, poise, offensive abilities and capacity to play HUGE minutes with a subpar supporting cast and still produce. He was fine defensively, made a few blunders but as I said, playing 26 minutes a night isn’t easy for any 18-year old. We have a good one in Nemec.

Glad to hear. Nemec's IQ was one of his best assets pre-draft so I'm glad it's continued. I'd argue he was able to log so many minutes a game due to him playing with idle effort in the DZone, however. Absolutely, 26 minutes a night is tough for any kid, but I certainly wouldn't interpret those minutes as him being a workhorse or anything. I'd rather him play 16-18 and actually move in the DZone.

I know it sounds like I'm being hard on him but I've seen double digit games of this guy now. Him not retrieving pucks, not getting in lanes, and not back checking is a concerning trend and I hoped he'd start showing effort by now.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

This card isn't surprising but it is certainly disappointing. I was really hoping he'd begin activating in his own end. His low danger wristers from the point aren't enough of an offensive weapon to offset his lazy D play. I'd love little more than to be wrong on Nemec but he's got quite a few hurdles to climb before becoming a full-time NHLer.

This ain’t it man. He was lacking a bit in intensity and urgency which isn’t unusual given the minutes he was playing. The fact that he was able to generate the offense he did was impressive. He didn’t jump in the rush much at all (likely because of the minutes he was playing) and Slovakia’s offense was essentially throw it to the net and down low. No forwards rolling high, dmen driving down. His options were usually limited to throw it down low or find a way to get a shot on net which he did pretty effectively.

Some things he definitely could’ve done better but he was playing a lot of tough minutes on a team that’s system wasn’t built for him to thrive and all things considered did pretty well.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Glad to hear. Nemec's IQ was one of his best assets pre-draft so I'm glad it's continued. I'd argue he was able to log so many minutes a game due to him playing with idle effort in the DZone, however. Absolutely, 26 minutes a night is tough for any kid, but I certainly wouldn't interpret those minutes as him being a workhorse or anything. I'd rather him play 16-18 and actually move in the DZone.

I know it sounds like I'm being hard on him but I've seen double digit games of this guy now. Him not retrieving pucks, not getting in lanes, and not back checking is a concerning trend and I hoped he'd start showing effort by now.

That’s exactly it. You’d rather that and there’s a lot of different things and situations we’d all rather where he likely does better. But Slovakia as a weaker team with a much weaker D-core than the good teams needed Nemec to eat a ton of minutes, be solid and provide whatever else he could while doing that. He did that. If he was playing 20 minutes or less on a better team with a better offensive system I’d imagine he’d have another gear or two to his game with more energy, be jumping up and much more involved in the offense and be a much more noticeable player with more opportunities to be impactful particularly in the offensive end.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Nemec averaged about 26:16 in TOI. I don’t think some people are appreciating just how much that is and how draining it can be.

There’s three players in the NHL that play more than that.

Makar- 27:09 (insane)
Doughty - 26:22
Dahlin - 26:21

One other guy is close
Chabot - 26:08
The next guy is
25:24

That’s obviously even tougher because it’s at the NHL level but Nemec is only 18 and it’s even more difficult when you spend too much of that time out there defending in your end.
It’s rare for a defensmen to able to play that much and do well. Let alone do it with high intensity at 18 years old.

 

[imMagnum]

That’s exactly it. You’d rather that and there’s a lot of different things and situations we’d all rather where he likely does better. But Slovakia as a weaker team with a much weaker D-core than the good teams needed Nemec to eat a ton of minutes, be solid and provide whatever else he could while doing that. He did that. If he was playing 20 minutes or less on a better team with a better offensive system I’d imagine he’d have another gear or two to his game with more energy, be jumping up and much more involved in the offense and be a much more noticeable player with more opportunities to be impactful particularly in the offensive end.

You bet. I agree to an extent. No doubt Nemec would be joining rushes more as a trailer if he had less minutes. I would argue that he got to log those heavy minutes because Nemec's play style matches the shot heavy OZone strategy that Slovakia wanted. Nemec played the same way in Nitra and during the WC last year.

Granted, I haven't seen a game of Nemec in Utica. Maybe his effort levels are different in the A where he's not asked to be the guy like he was in his previous teams.

 

[Ducks4Cup]

good read on how you all think he did in the WJ. what I saw of him he played the tough minutes, I.e. against bedard.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Scott Wheeler on Nemec at the world juniors:
Captain. Short little passes and evasions. Steered the game effortlessly. So subtle. Big in big moments (minus his penalties in the quarterfinal), incredibly efficient the rest. Made some really difficult passes through seams.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

For comparison sake. Probably Slovaki’s expected 2 best defensmen and someone who’s likely to go in the first 2 rounds Oct he draft this year.

 

[Devs3cups]

Nemec back in action for Utica tonight!

 

[Mgd31]

Call up Nemec for the Rangers game and sit Bahl. f*** it

 

[Devs3cups]

Nemec with 4 shots and +1 in Utica’s 3-2 SO W!

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

I'll be driving out to Springfield to see the Comets play on the road today. I went last year and it was a cool rink to check out , it holds like 5k and is all just one big lower bowl so every seat has a good view. It's a cool city to make a day trip out of (Basketball Hall of Fame , Dr. Seuss Museum. Springfield Armory etc). Well more importantly it will be good to see Nemec live. I saw him at the prospect camp this past summer and he was great. Utica has been playing better latley so hopefully they can get the win tonight.

 

[BurntToast]

Listen Lindas,

Most of us liked Jiricek, it’s not some revelation he has played well.

The Devils felt Nemec was more intriguing. Historic numbers in an unknown adult league, put up great numbers at every major event to include the Olympics. If it wasn’t for Slaf, Nemec would of had more hype. Plus, Jiri had a blown out knee. I can’t blame the Devils on the selection.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Nemec assist
And schmid go the secondary

 

[Devils731]

Nemec seems like he’s getting comfortable.