RD Simon Nemec (2022, 2nd, NJD)

[My3Sons]

I'm a generous guy, what can I say


I've seen a fair amount of Jiricek, but not as much Nemec as I would like. I actually would argue Nemec is probably a bit better of a player today, but I like Jiricek more as a prospect. His skating is still pretty raw in comparison to Nemec, with a lot more room for improvement. And he's got an absolute bomb of a shot that Simon will never have.

I agree on the shooting. Jiricek absolutely has a big shot. Really impressive. That aside, I think it's a stylistic thing as well. Nemec looks to try to place the puck in comparison which makes sense. I think Nemec has really good passing touch and Nemec starts from a better skating base and can also improve that given his age. Jiricek tries to play more physically than Nemec who looks to play more positionally. Both are wonderful prospects and both NJ and CLB should be very satisfied with these two players. I've said before that ultimately, the team around them probably has more to do with their success than any differences between the two individually. If Nemec ends up on a third pair on a strong NJ team that would give him a leg up on Jiricek if Columbus asks him to play meaningful shutdown type minutes if Gudbranson fades further as he gets older. I think both will be successful but have no issues with anyone's preference for one over the other.

 

[Hisch13r]

I'm a generous guy, what can I say


I've seen a fair amount of Jiricek, but not as much Nemec as I would like. I actually would argue Nemec is probably a bit better of a player today, but I like Jiricek more as a prospect. His skating is still pretty raw in comparison to Nemec, with a lot more room for improvement. And he's got an absolute bomb of a shot that Simon will never have.

Yeah the skating will be the difference maker at the end of the day. I like Jiricek when it comes to just about everything else. He refines that skating and I think you’re looking at a Norris caliber guy who will be the better of the 2 for sure. He doesn’t make up ground there and Nemec probably ends up better

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Slafkovsky was very meh. Worst d+1 season I can recall for a 1st overall, and had an especially poor final stretch:
15gp 0g 0a -12 11 SOG

That is far from okay. Point totals are less concerning than his lack of shot generation... The fact that he still has the same skillset and potential isn't really a positive, as he had no business being he first pick to begin with.

There is no way he goes ahead of any of the below:
Cooley
Jiricek
Nemec

I have him 9th right now in a redraft (behind Casey, Lambert, Savoie, Kulich, and Gauthier)

Wright has 7p in 12 AHL games this year, and was very poor in the OHL playoffs, contributing to the top seeded Spitfires getting swept in the first round. He honestly wasn't even that good in the OHL regular season, despite his numbers. And he was one of the worst players in the NHL during his stint with Seattle. I have him outside the top 10 in a redraft.

Saying there’s no way he goes ahead of those guys in a redraft is just bs and clearly routed in the bias of you saying he had no business being the first pick originally. He was the first pick and he’s done fine since and has really good skills and potential. Could care less what his point totals or even shots were. He kept up and looked fine whenever I watched him and no one else his age was playing in the league. Guys doing well outside the NHL doesn’t mean they’ve surpassed him just because he didn’t do a whole a lot in the NHL in his first year.

Suggesting he would go 9th in a redraft is ridiculous. If that’s just your personally ranking fine but there’s no chance he’d actually fall outside of the top 5 in a redraft right now this soon after nor is there any chance Wright would fall outside of the top 10 or close to it. Saying Wright was terrible in his NHL stint is dumb too. He barely played and did fine all things considered when he did.

One of the main things here a lot of people do that is extremely frustrating is dock guys who struggled or didn’t do that great in the NHL at 18 because other prospects outside of the league are doing great. Ok Slafkovsky wasn’t all that great in the NHL year 1. So what, none of the other guys played like he did. They doing well in other leagues doesn’t mean they’ve surpassed him.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Saying there’s no way he goes ahead of those guys in a redraft is just bs and clearly routed in the bias of you saying he had no business being the first pick originally. He was the first pick and he’s done fine since and has really good skills and potential. Could care less what his point totals or even shots were. He kept up and looked fine whenever I watched him and no one else his age was playing in the league. Guys doing well outside the NHL doesn’t mean they’ve surpassed him just because he didn’t do a whole a lot in the NHL in his first year.

Suggesting he would go 9th in a redraft is ridiculous. If that’s just your personally ranking fine but there’s no chance he’d actually fall outside of the top 5 in a redraft right now this soon after nor is there any chance Wright would fall outside of the top 10 or close to it. Saying Wright was terrible in his NHL stint is dumb too. He barely played and did fine all things considered when he did.

Somebody didn't watch Wright play.

These are my personal assessments. I don't know how you could have watched Slafkovsky play and think he looked fine.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Somebody didn't watch Wright play.

These are my personal assessments. I don't know how you could have watched Slafkovsky play and think he looked fine.

I watched Wright play. I watched Slafkovsky play. They both looked fine and kept up with play. Slafkovsky had some nice moments. As I said regardless it’s pretty irrelevant. Docking prospects because they didn’t do that great in the NHL at 18 in comparison to their counterparts who did well in weaker leagues is so stupid.

Literally similar to people acting like Zegras and Caulfield might be better than Hughes because they were tearing it up at college and the world juniors while he struggled in the NHL. Is a stupid comparison and suggesting the 2 guys that played in the NHL would fall dramatically in a redraft right now is dumb.

 

[Jorma Heart]

Who is the better prospect: Nemec or Reinbacher?

I’m trying to gauge where Nemec ranks as top defensive prospects and I’m having a hard time distinguishing his skill level. There’s guys like Jiricek, Clarke, and Hughes, and there’s a tier below in Korchinski, Zellweger, Hutson, and Harley.

Perhaps Nemec/Reinbacher are in a tier between?

Tier 1:
Jiricek
Hughes
Clarke
Nemec?

Tier 2:
Nemec?
Reinbacher
Edvinsson
Drysdale

Tier 3:
Korchinski
Zellweger
Harley
Hutson

Etc

Personally I think that Nemec is the best defence prospect right now. I see shades of Ristolainen in Jiricek, I don't like Hughes tries to defend (haven't seen him play in a year tho) and Clarke I like, but don't see him as a true #1 dman, Nemec has all the tools to become one.

Nemec
Jiricek
Hughes
Clarke
Reinbacher

That's my top 5.

 

[Hisch13r]

Personally I think that Nemec is the best defence prospect right now. I see shades of Ristolainen in Jiricek, I don't like Hughes tries to defend (haven't seen him play in a year tho) and Clarke I like, but don't see him as a true #1 dman, Nemec has all the tools to become one.

Nemec
Jiricek
Hughes
Clarke
Reinbacher

That's my top 5.

It’s obviously only 2 games but Luke was really good defensively and I was VERY skeptical of his defense. He’ll have his holes defensively just due to him jumping up into the play but the tools are there to be at least a competent in zone and rush defender

 

[Lavar Ball]

Who is the better prospect: Nemec or Reinbacher?

I’m trying to gauge where Nemec ranks as top defensive prospects and I’m having a hard time distinguishing his skill level. There’s guys like Jiricek, Clarke, and Hughes, and there’s a tier below in Korchinski, Zellweger, Hutson, and Harley.

Perhaps Nemec/Reinbacher are in a tier between?

Tier 1:
Jiricek
Hughes
Clarke
Nemec?

Tier 2:
Nemec?
Reinbacher
Edvinsson
Drysdale

Tier 3:
Korchinski
Zellweger
Harley
Hutson

Etc

Mintyukov?

 

[Lou Bloom]

I don't see the need to make this a Nemec vs Jiricek debate. The Devils value skating and transition ability in their defenseman which made Nemec the obvious fit, whereas Jiricek is at his best in a slower tempo style. They're both great defensive prospects that bring different strengths to their respective teams.

 

[Pazucha]

Slafkovsky looked good in the NHL there were games when he was one of the best players on the team. After Monahan's injury he had bunch of really bad games that tanked his stats a lot. Before the season ending injury against New York he started playing good again.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Mintyukov?

Whoof forgot about him haha

Personally I think that Nemec is the best defence prospect right now. I see shades of Ristolainen in Jiricek, I don't like Hughes tries to defend (haven't seen him play in a year tho) and Clarke I like, but don't see him as a true #1 dman, Nemec has all the tools to become one.

Nemec
Jiricek
Hughes
Clarke
Reinbacher

That's my top 5.

honestly, that’s really spot on and similar to what I think as well for the most part. I’d have a couple higher than Reinbacher

I see a lot of things about Nemec that remind me of a young Ryan Suter.

 

[LemonSauceD]

It’s obviously only 2 games but Luke was really good defensively and I was VERY skeptical of his defense. He’ll have his holes defensively just due to him jumping up into the play but the tools are there to be at least a competent in zone and rush defender

Luke is already much better than Quinn was defensively if I may add. He’s worked on it a lot since but Luke already being more of a complete defenseman at his age screams the potential he has, a good challenger to the Makar’s and Heiskanen’s.

I am really high on Luke and I feel like he may very well end up being a Josi. So much similarities it’s a bit eerie.

I’m kind of stunned a lot have Nemec higher. Must be sleeping on him.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

It’s obviously only 2 games but Luke was really good defensively and I was VERY skeptical of his defense. He’ll have his holes defensively just due to him jumping up into the play but the tools are there to be at least a competent in zone and rush defender

I liked Luke’s first two games (especially the 2nd) and even thought he should be considered as an option for game one of the playoffs but saying he was really good defensively is quite a stretch. He was passable. First game wasn’t great and he had some breakdowns and missed assignments that could easily have been goals against. 2nd game was better but he still wasn’t really good. Spent a bit too much time chasing and didn’t seem able to end to many plays down low and in the corners both games.

 

[alko]

Nemec is great, but there's a good chance he actually falls in a redraft.

WTF should that means? How does this affect his future?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

WTF should that means? How does this affect his future?

All it means is that there are some guys who were drafted ahead of him who have arguably made more progress this year and may now project better.

 

[MNRube]

I prefer Nemec to Hughes & Clarke as well. he’s got the calm mind we’ve seen from guys like Fox, Spurgeon etc.

Jiricek is neck and neck w/ Nemec IMO. I see more Ekblad than I do Ristolainen

 

[John Pedro]

 

[stevo61]

I watched Nemec a couple time when they played Cleveland and he plays a mature game, but I think thats what we all expected. I liked Jiricek more predraft and had him number 2 because of his upside. Jiricek seemed more volatile while Nemec was steady as can be but if they both boom Jiricek could be higher. Im not surprised Nemec looked better at times, especially the finally quarter of the season I was just more surprised Jiricek looked as good as he did already.
Both are gonna be guys you can put on a top pair or lead a top end 2nd pair. Both teams are going to be happy for a long time

 

[Antiillafire]

Sounds like he will be sent down to Utica for his second season in NA. NJ being a cup contender obviously limits how many really young guys they will line up with. Hopefully this isn’t Julius Honka 2.0…

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Sounds like he will be sent down to Utica for his second season in NA. NJ being a cup contender obviously limits how many really young guys they will line up with. Hopefully this isn’t Julius Honka 2.0…

Huh? He was one of our best dmen in preseason, there are zero concerns with him

 

[Random Comment]

Sounds like he will be sent down to Utica for his second season in NA. NJ being a cup contender obviously limits how many really young guys they will line up with. Hopefully this isn’t Julius Honka 2.0…

Weird concern to have given his play.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Sounds like he will be sent down to Utica for his second season in NA. NJ being a cup contender obviously limits how many really young guys they will line up with. Hopefully this isn’t Julius Honka 2.0…

NJ just has lots of depth and will have to break in another rookie dman to start the year. He was definitely one of our 6 best dman in the preseason, but it makes sense to let him cook for a bit longer. He will be up this season

 

[Boonk]

Sounds like he will be sent down to Utica for his second season in NA. NJ being a cup contender obviously limits how many really young guys they will line up with. Hopefully this isn’t Julius Honka 2.0…

Julius Honka was never as good as Nemec is now at the same age. New Jersey has a lot of NHL depth on D that they can afford to let him play and marinate more at the AHL level for a season and slide his ELC another year.

 

[Brodeur]

Not totally surprising after they acquired Colin Miller to be a one year band-aid as 3RD (and he might have lost the opening night spot to Brendan Smith). It's too bad, on merit Nemec might have deserved a spot but they probably didn't want to iron things out with two rookie D at the same time and possibly on the same pairing.

Plus on the business end, Nemec's contract will slide if he doesn't hit 10 NHL games this season so that might be a consideration for down the line.

 

[stevo61]

Crazy that Nemec and Jiricek are both busts going back to the AHL. Thought they would be all stars by now