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

[PizzaAndPucks]

I would say Nemec's D+1 season would be an A-. He had a solid season and grew as it went along. It's nice that the GM's and others who voted on him making the first rookie all star team thought highly of him too. I'd say the only way he would get an A or A+ on the year is he he forced his way to be called up somehow but that realistically wasn't going to happen unless we had a ton of injuries. The standings were too tight and our group of Dmen this past season was the best we have had in a long time. I think next season he will be the first call up and might stick around for a bit.

 

[Devs3cups]

Looks real good, and that’s only his D+1 here. Also posted Bader’s model at the end of Nemec’s season. Very nice. He’s only gonna get better overall. So exciting to have 2 elite, top D-men prospects.

 

[My3Sons]

I would say Nemec's D+1 season would be an A-. He had a solid season and grew as it went along. It's nice that the GM's and others who voted on him making the first rookie all star team thought highly of him too. I'd say the only way he would get an A or A+ on the year is he he forced his way to be called up somehow but that realistically wasn't going to happen unless we had a ton of injuries. The standings were too tight and our group of Dmen this past season was the best we have had in a long time. I think next season he will be the first call up and might stick around for a bit.

Given that he would be a college freshman and he found success in the top minor league and got better as the season went on and was seemingly at his best in thr playoffs on what was a flawed team I’d give him the A. In the real world the living adjustment alone had to be huge. Getting his feet under him and steadily improving is a fantastic result for him.

 

[Wierzbowski426]

No surprise that Nemec was AFTER Jiricek....

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Given that he would be a college freshman and he found success in the top minor league and got better as the season went on and was seemingly at his best in thr playoffs on what was a flawed team I’d give him the A. In the real world the living adjustment alone had to be huge. Getting his feet under him and steadily improving is a fantastic result for him.

And that’s as a TRUE college freshman. Realistically if he was going the college route, he probably wouldn’t have even started until next season.

I’m really hyped on this kid. It’s remarkable how ahead of the curve he’s been. My brain says it’ll be 3 years at an absolute minimum before he’s a high-end NHL defenseman, but my gut says he’s figured out multiple pro levels of hockey before his 19th birthday and the sky is the limit.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

i see a lot of the bloggers saying that Nemec is too inexperienced to trot out with Hughes and Bahl for a full season. Personally I’d say bring it on. If Nemec is good enough to make the team out of camp, he should make the team. Manage his minutes and GP if you want, but i have no problem using those three with Hamilton, Marino, Siegs, and Smith for the season.

I've got no doubt that Nemec can step up to NHL as soon as next season but I do worry about the penalty kill.

If Nemec is on the team with Hughes, it probably means the PK 2nd pair is Bahl-Hamilton.

I guess if we are paying Hamilton $9m, he probably needs to also PK.

I think if we can get a Connor Clifton stopgap at RD, we should send Nemec back to Utica for another season.

 

[RSeen]

I've got no doubt that Nemec can step up to NHL as soon as next season but I do worry about the penalty kill.

If Nemec is on the team with Hughes, it probably means the PK 2nd pair is Bahl-Hamilton.

I guess if we are paying Hamilton $9m, he probably needs to also PK.

I think if we can get a Connor Clifton stopgap at RD, we should send Nemec back to Utica for another season.

I wouldn't mind Nemec getting anther year in the minors to develop. Seider for example had a strong D+1 season and benefited from additional season after in Europe.

 

[Guttersniped]

I wouldn't mind Nemec getting anther year in the minors to develop. Seider for example had a strong D+1 season and benefited from additional season after in Europe.

That was 2020-21 though, I assume Seider was sent to the SHL because the AHL season barely existed.

Grand Rapids played 32 games, which often were more like scrimmages, with no playoffs. Seider got to play more games in the SHL and go on a sweet playoff run to the Finals.

 

[Lou is God]

Nemec might start the season at Utica but that ain't where he's going to finish it. He'll be in Newark at the end.

 

[Billdo]

I think if we can get a Connor Clifton stopgap at RD, we should send Nemec back to Utica for another season.

Little jam too, I like signing Clifton specifically.

 

[Team Concept]

Little jam too, I like signing Clifton specifically.

Bruins: 3 Potential Free-Agent Destinations for Connor Clifton

 

[devilsblood]

Bruins: 3 Potential Free-Agent Destinations for Connor Clifton

That article is missing the Nemec factor.

Clifton is most likely looking for a multi year deal, which we are unlikely to hand out.

 

[Omar Little]

That article is missing the Nemec factor.

Clifton is most likely looking for a multi year deal, which we are unlikely to hand out.

Give him 2 year and $1.25m - $1.5m per. He basically takes over for Brendan Smith's role in 24-25

 

[Triumph]

Give him 2 year and $1.25m - $1.5m per. He basically takes over for Brendan Smith's role in 24-25

He's 27 years old. There's no way he is signing for less than half of what you've proposed here.

 

[MB3]

Give him 2 year and $1.25m - $1.5m per. He basically takes over for Brendan Smith's role in 24-25

love this idea. let’s also lock up meier for 8 years at $850k. will give us plenty of money leftover to add Matthews for $1.5-$2m per year next off-season.

 

[Guttersniped]

He's 27 years old. There's no way he is signing for less than half of what you've proposed here.

Evolving Hockey had Clifton projected for 3 years/3m.

The dudes Daily Faceoff is using had him at 2 years/1.75m.

I don’t particularly want him. He’s ok I guess, but a bit undersized.

He worse defensively last season than the one before, he just produced more because his team did.

He didn’t pk much for them this season, though he’s done pretty well on it before.

 

[Devs3cups]

Simon Nemec Big Head Hockey!

 

[MrGone]

With Dougie Hamilton on PP1 and Luke Hughes on PP2.

What will that leave for Simon Nemec?

Do you think he will be stuck on the 3rd pair and getting PK2 ice time?

He looked great at Utica. I like to think they feed him more ice time to be able to lean on him a little down the stretch?

Thanks

 

[McDuffz88]

He isn't blocked at all. In my opinion I think Luke Hughes replaces Hamilton on PP1 & we throw Hamilton in the Ovechkin spot for his one timer. Hamilton is slow as shit on the backcheck, Hughes can mitigate that. Let's use Hamiltons strength which is his lethal shot. Ruff actually tried this experiment out one of the last games but I see it as the move going forward. That gives Nemec PP2. Also it wouldn't hurt to have Nemec out with Hughes/Hamilton. It ain't like the dude is a defensive only dman. Most teams just don't 2 dman because they don't have 2 really skilled offensive ones to put on a pair.

 

[Nubmer6]

He isn't blocked at all. In my opinion I think Luke Hughes replaces Hamilton on PP1 & we throw Hamilton in the Ovechkin spot for his one timer. Hamilton is slow as shit on the backcheck, Hughes can mitigate that. Let's use Hamiltons strength which is his lethal shot. Ruff actually tried this experiment out one of the last games but I see it as the move going forward. That gives Nemec PP2. Also it wouldn't hurt to have Nemec out with Hughes/Hamilton. It ain't like the dude is a defensive only dman. Most teams just don't 2 dman because they don't have 2 really skilled offensive ones to put on a pair.

They should have done this with PK. He should have been the shooter instead of QB.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

He isn't blocked at all. In my opinion I think Luke Hughes replaces Hamilton on PP1 & we throw Hamilton in the Ovechkin spot for his one timer. Hamilton is slow as shit on the backcheck, Hughes can mitigate that. Let's use Hamiltons strength which is his lethal shot. Ruff actually tried this experiment out one of the last games but I see it as the move going forward. That gives Nemec PP2. Also it wouldn't hurt to have Nemec out with Hughes/Hamilton. It ain't like the dude is a defensive only dman. Most teams just don't 2 dman because they don't have 2 really skilled offensive ones to put on a pair.

They aren’t going to do that if it supplants Hughes, which it obviously would since Jack plays in that spot.

I do think as far as the PP goes Nemec is in a weird spot. Maybe there’s a version of the PP2 where Nemec plays the point and Hughes is in more of a dynamic half-wall role, but that sounds like getting too cute.

Anyway, Nemec needs to make the team first, and even that isn’t a given next season.

 

[My3Sons]

They should have done this with PK. He should have been the shooter instead of QB.

It would be interesting to have a Top Gear style challenge of PK’s windup against Hamilton’s foot speed. Whoever does better on the sundial wins.

 

[Rhodes 81]

I realize this should and will not weigh into decision making, but it really would be ideal for long-term team building from a contract standpoint if Nemec plays in the AHL again this year.

 

[Devils731]

I realize this should and will not weigh into decision making, but it really would be ideal for long-term team building from a contract standpoint if Nemec plays in the AHL again this year.

I may try to argue his sweet spot is over 10 games to burn his ELC year and get to his second contract ASAP while playing less then 40 games so that he does not accrue a season towards UFA.

He would likely be the only player of significance coming off his ELC if you start him this year. It gives Nemec one less season to establish himself so it may reduce the long term contract you sign him at in return for the expense of starting his payday 1 year early.

 

[tailfins]

I realize this should and will not weigh into decision making, but it really would be ideal for long-term team building from a contract standpoint if Nemec plays in the AHL again this year.

Why is that? I'm not clear on the contract specifics.

I see his ELC slid a year already. I thought that the max it could slide? Or is it possible to slide another year?