RD Simon Nemec (2022, 2nd, NJD)

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Are Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec gonna be the younger version of what we are seeing with stud duo Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek?

 

[GaboriklessWild]

First off, the Canucks were at home and had last change. So if line matching was happening, it was happening the other way. I.e. the Canucks were trying to put out their top players against Nemec, and not Luke.

Second, even if the Devils were line matching, I would also be putting my best offensive defenseman against the opponents weaker matchups, because I want him to feast.

Third, you just exactly showed what I was saying. Nemec has more defensive responsibility, I said it. Right there. In my most. That's a compliment!

Dude The home team only has this advantage before faceoffs, not during live playing time. This is probably how Pettersson was able to play more than three minutes against L.Hughes.

Some guys are very desperate here.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

First off, the Canucks were at home and had last change. So if line matching was happening, it was happening the other way. I.e. the Canucks were trying to put out their top players against Nemec, and not Luke.

Second, even if the Devils were line matching, I would also be putting my best offensive defenseman against the opponents weaker matchups, because I want him to feast.

Third, you just exactly showed what I was saying. Nemec has more defensive responsibility, I said it. Right there. In my post. That's a compliment! My point was that defensive responsibility is not the only kind of responsibility and getting offensive minutes is not necessarily sheltering. Sometimes you want to emphasize player strengths.

Except the majority of their line changes were on the fly and you could see the devils actively trying to manage it. Luke and Miller were used sparingly in the 3rd as they tried to hold onto the lead.

That being said they spotted Luke in for some defensive shifts with Siegenthaler too. Sometimes ice time is a consequence of who you’re playing with too. Nemec got a lot of ice time with Siegenthaler. Miller wasn’t playing that much so it’s harder to give Luke more minutes.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Yah, but even ultra talented Dmen like Makar don't get to the league until 22. This is very rare.

No clue how they are gonna manage the offensive opportunities for Hamilton, Hughes and Nemec. I would probably trade Hamilton for a good haul in the summer.

I don’t think that should be a huge issue even if one of them ends up off of the powerplay. Depending on who else is around you could also use Dougie as a flank shooter.

But Nemec also isn’t a defensmen that relies on the powerplay to put up points. They didn’t give him much time there in the AHL last year and he put up great 5v5 numbers. That’s another factor too. The devils have clearly been trying to coach Nemec into being very good defensively and on the PK. Huge focus on that since he came to NA and could be seen yesterday with his defensive role.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Dude The home team only has this advantage before faceoffs, not during live playing time. This is probably how Pettersson was able to play more than three minutes against L.Hughes.

Some guys are very desperate here.

My man, I'm not the one in here slagging Luke Hughes to prop up my bad takes about Nemec and the AHL.

They’re both on the team I support. They’re both incredible. I’m so happy to have them both on the Devils for many years to come.

Except the majority of their line changes were on the fly and you could see the devils actively trying to manage it. Luke and Miller were used sparingly in the 3rd as they tried to hold onto the lead.

That being said they spotted Luke in for some defensive shifts with Siegenthaler too. Sometimes ice time is a consequence of who you’re playing with. Nemec got a lot of ice time with Siegenthaler. Miller wasn’t playing that much so it’s harder to give Luke more minutes.

Nemec got more defensive assignments last night. I have never argued otherwise. I’m just providing some nuance here, as to why deployments are the way they are.

I don’t have an agenda to protect Luke or tear down Nemec. I love them both like they were my sons.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Dude The home team only has this advantage before faceoffs, not during live playing time. This is probably how Pettersson was able to play more than three minutes against L.Hughes.

Some guys are very desperate here.

Is there a reason, other than your own insecurities, that you feel the need to keep bringing up Luke Hughes in a Simon Nemec thread?

Nemec has been solid as expected, Luke has been dynamic as expected, scoring what proved to be a huge goal last night. Luke's scoring at the same rate Nemec was in the AHL, while being one of our best defensive dmen. It's not like he's struggling.

Keeping Luke up over Nemec has proven to be the right decision, despite your crying.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Luke's scoring at the same rate Nemec was in the AHL, while being one of our best defensive dmen. It's not like he's struggling.

Keeping Luke up over Nemec has proven to be the right decision, despite your crying.

Was liking this post until this part. Nothing has proven that whatsoever nor is this comment necessary. I personally still think Nemec should’ve started with the team (along with Luke). And Nemec was better than Luke in preseason.

Also the comparison of their NHL and AHL production without any context is stupid.

 

[GaboriklessWild]

Is there a reason, other than your own insecurities, that you feel the need to keep bringing up Luke Hughes in a Simon Nemec thread?

Nemec has been solid as expected, Luke has been dynamic as expected, scoring what proved to be a huge goal last night. Luke's scoring at the same rate Nemec was in the AHL, while being one of our best defensive dmen. It's not like he's struggling.

Keeping Luke up over Nemec has proven to be the right decision, despite your crying.

I was simply stating a fact that Nemec gets more responsibility than the older rookie. I actually didn't even mention the other guy's name. Others started to come up with all sorts of weird twisted nonsense. Not me. Why other folks have to defend L.Hughes in Nemec's thread over the coaches giving Nemec more TOI and harder minutes?

What I wrote was based on the facts of numbers like TOI, PK time, quality of opponents... I understand that not everyone likes facts. But such narrow-mindedness is not my problem.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Was liking this post until this part. Nothing has proven that whatsoever nor is this comment necessary. I personally still think Nemec should’ve started with the team (along with Luke). And Nemec was better than Luke in preseason.

I would have preferred both of them up, but if the team was intent on keeping Smith and Miller, sending down Nemec made the most sense. Luke was our best defenseman in the last game of the playoffs, and has been one of the few bright spots on the team this year.

Also think the comparison of their NHL and AHL production is stupid.

Luke is the better offensive player, which is reflected in their numbers. Producing in the NHL is provably more difficult.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Luke is the better offensive player, which is reflected in their numbers. Producing in the NHL is provably more difficult.

That’s not necessarily true at all. He’s done more offensively at the NHL level to this point. But just looking at those numbers with no context and comparing is really dumb. Apart from it being way too small of a sample to draw conclusions from.

Luke is playing on the top powerplay with Jack Hughes. That powerplay also happens to be the best powerplay in the entire league. 8 of his points from that. Also being played in all offensive scenarios.

Nemec was once again given limited powerplay time in the AHL as they stressed having him focus on the defensive side and playing PK while they spread more of the pp and development time to some of their other young defensmen. Makes a huge difference on production. Nemec has one powerplay point as a result and the rest elsewhere.

Playing top minutes on the best powerplay in the league usually leads to more points than playing very little powerplay.

Shouldn’t need me to explain that. Comparing production in completely different scenarios without context and in such a small sample and drawing conclusions is dumb.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

That’s not necessarily true at all. He’s done more offensively at the NHL level to this point. But just looking at those numbers with no context and comparing is really dumb. Apart from it being way too small of a sample to draw conclusions from.

Luke is playing on the top powerplay with Jack Hughes. That powerplay also happens to be the best powerplay in the entire league. 8 of his points from that. Also being played in all offensive scenarios.

Nemec was once again given limited powerplay time in the AHL as they stressed having him focus on the defensive side and playing PK while they spread more of the pp and development time to some of their other young defensmen. Makes a huge difference on production. Nemec has one powerplay point as a result and the rest elsewhere.

Playing top minutes on the best powerplay in the league usually leads to more points than playing very little powerplay.

Shouldn’t need me to explain that. Comparing production in completely different scenarios without context and in such a small sample and drawing conclusions is dumb.

I think Luke is pretty clearly the better offensive talent. Obviously, this is a subjective comment, but I don't think I'd be in the minority here. He's been a huge reason why we have the best PP in the league.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I think Luke is pretty clearly the better offensive talent. Obviously, this is a subjective comment, but I don't think I'd be in the minority here. He's been a huge reason why we have the best PP in the league.

Potential wise I don’t agree or disagree. I think they have similar offensive potential. Could see Luke ending up better but could see Nemec being better offensively too. Different skillsets. Luke’s got better pure physical tools but I think Nemec has a better offensive mind. He reads the play so well in the ozone and is so good a putting himself in great spots and playing off of others.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Was liking this post until this part. Nothing has proven that whatsoever nor is this comment necessary. I personally still think Nemec should’ve started with the team (along with Luke). And Nemec was better than Luke in preseason.

Also the comparison of their NHL and AHL production without any context is stupid.

I think Luke was fighting through an injury in the preseason. He showed he was ready last year.

 

[Pazucha]

You don't play pre season games injured.

 

[My3Sons]

Is there a reason, other than your own insecurities, that you feel the need to keep bringing up Luke Hughes in a Simon Nemec thread?

Nemec has been solid as expected, Luke has been dynamic as expected, scoring what proved to be a huge goal last night. Luke's scoring at the same rate Nemec was in the AHL, while being one of our best defensive dmen. It's not like he's struggling.

Keeping Luke up over Nemec has proven to be the right decision, despite your crying.

Yeah? Well what about my crying? Did you ever consider that? Fine, maybe I was just being melodramatic and my tears had nothing to do with hockey at all, but still, you could have sent flowers or a nice fruit basket.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

You don't play pre season games injured.

He was injured in training camp and clearly battling through something when he returned in the preseason. Why comment on something you don’t know about?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

He was injured in training camp and clearly battling through something when he returned in the preseason. Why comment on something you don’t know about?

Because it goes against the narrative?

 

[LemonSauceD]

After a brutal 1st period (for both teams tbh) thought Nemec was the best defenseman for New Jersey last night.

Luke has a lot of defensive work that he needs to work on so sheltering him and giving him the easier matchups makes sense. I also don’t think his decision making with the puck has been the greatest but he’s definitely a work in progress.

I do think Nemec is the all around better defenseman, at this stage. He’s got top 5 written all over him. A better Heiskanen.

 

[My3Sons]

After a brutal 1st period (for both teams tbh) thought Nemec was the best defenseman for New Jersey last night.

Luke has a lot of defensive work that he needs to work on so sheltering him and giving him the easier matchups makes sense. I also don’t think his decision making with the puck has been the greatest but he’s definitely a work in progress.

I do think Nemec is the all around better defenseman, at this stage. He’s got top 5 written all over him. A better Heiskanen.

the ice time reflected that at least Lindy Ruff thought Nemec had the better game, albeit the time was influenced by penalty killing for Nemec versus PP for Luke Hughes. That said, they are both rookies and will have their ups and downs. Next game they may both look lost or maybe Hughes looks better. I don't see the skating for Nemec that Heiskanen has. He's very smart and quite skilled so he should be an excellent defender but comparing him to Heiskanen is asking a lot to me.

 

[Guadana]

Honestly shocked to see an NHL coach give 20+ mins to a 19 year old from the jump.

He should making excuse to other young defensemen who cant and sit Nemec? Some players just better and play more and earlier. Some gm's and scouts could understand it before "consensus" will change.

 

[Guadana]

the ice time reflected that at least Lindy Ruff thought Nemec had the better game, albeit the time was influenced by penalty killing for Nemec versus PP for Luke Hughes. That said, they are both rookies and will have their ups and downs. Next game they may both look lost or maybe Hughes looks better. I don't see the skating for Nemec that Heiskanen has. He's very smart and quite skilled so he should be an excellent defender but comparing him to Heiskanen is asking a lot to me.

Even if Nemec will be better than Luke, We can at least take comfort in the fact that Luke will be all around better than Fox.

 

[Devs3cups]

the ice time reflected that at least Lindy Ruff thought Nemec had the better game, albeit the time was influenced by penalty killing for Nemec versus PP for Luke Hughes. That said, they are both rookies and will have their ups and downs. Next game they may both look lost or maybe Hughes looks better. I don't see the skating for Nemec that Heiskanen has. He's very smart and quite skilled so he should be an excellent defender but comparing him to Heiskanen is asking a lot to me.

Yeah, I think Nemec is a very good skater and his style of play does remind me of Heiskanen to some extent as a poised, good skating, high IQ 2-way D-man, but Heiskanen’s skating is all world.

Nemec is a damn good skater, but Heiskanen is an almost impossible level to reach. Other than that, I do see some similarities between the two, as I mentioned, in regards to play style.

 

[PensandCaps]

He should making excuse to other young defensemen who cant and sit Nemec? Some players just better and play more and earlier. Some gm's and scouts could understand it before "consensus" will change.

Well, im not suggesting that. Just usually against the mindset of NHL coaches to play young Dmen.

 

[Guadana]

Well, im not suggesting that. Just usually against the mindset of NHL coaches to play young Dmen.

It's less poetic. Dougie is hurt, Nemec is good. He was very good in preseason, everybody talked about how he should start the season as NHL regular, Devils didn't have open roster spot. Now Dougie is out more months, Nemec was electric right from the first shift against SJ. And he was always a horse, who can play a lot of minutes. So I believe its more situational- Ruff gives him minute and shift and he is doing everything on the level they are asking from him.

 

[Zacha37]

https://x.com/cjtdevil/status/1732799241569861708?s=46&t=t4X7BlyTXRLpauWu0C8YRQ