RD Simon Nemec (2022, 2nd, NJD)

[My3Sons]

He's looked like a guy who showed up with a shoulder injury and has had to unlearn everything he was told since arriving in NJ. At his age that's a bunch to deal with. I'm guessing he will rebound as he feels better and picks up the new way of doing things.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Nemec has been our worst defensive player for most of the season.

Does he have any offensive ability?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

So he is a dud then since he has done nothing offensively.

He's a 20 year old defenseman returning from injury. Far drom a dud.

 

[Forge]

What are the chances Nemec gets traded to a different team?

Right now? I'd say almost 0? It's really hard to even find a match of a trade partner. They aren't shipping him off for futures. They're not moving him for a guy with only 2-3 years of team control, I would imagine.

He looked good last year in the show. He's just not one of their top 6 defensemen right now after adding Pesce and Kovacevic and struggling out of the gate himself. At 20 years old, its not really an indictment of him. Nothing wrong with marinating a little longer in Utica to get his game back.

 

[Antiillafire]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1850908199144116259

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1850908199144116259

Keefe's not wrong. Kovacevic earned his spot over Nemec.

Nemec would probably be better served getting reps in the AHL. Bring in an older AHL D to sit in the pressbox.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Right now? I'd say almost 0? It's really hard to even find a match of a trade partner. They aren't shipping him off for futures. They're not moving him for a guy with only 2-3 years of team control, I would imagine.

He looked good last year in the show. He's just not one of their top 6 defensemen right now after adding Pesce and Kovacevic and struggling out of the gate himself. At 20 years old, its not really an indictment of him. Nothing wrong with marinating a little longer in Utica to get his game back.

Great point. Devils also have a 21-year-old defenseman who would greatly benefit more from playing big minutes in the AHL rather than having his miscues drawing the ire of the fans on a nightly basis.

But there is no way he is sent down.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Great point. Devils also have a 21-year-old defenseman who would greatly benefit more from playing big minutes in the AHL rather than having his miscues drawing the ire of the fans on a nightly basis.

But there is no way he is sent down.

You mean the guy who allowed 0 shots against last night at 5v5?

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

You mean the guy who allowed 0 shots against last night at 5v5?

I was referring to the guy who is -2 with one assist in three games. Devils won't play Ducks again for months.

Seems like a 6-3, 24-year-old would be far more suited for a 3rd pairing role while Luke and Simon play 20+ minutes a night dominating the AHL; which would be a boost to the organization as a whole.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I was referring to the guy who is -2 with one assist in three games. Devils won't play Ducks again for months.

Seems like a 6-3, 24-year-old would be far more suited for a 3rd pairing role while Luke and Simon play 20+ minutes a night dominating the AHL; which would be a boost to the organization as a whole.

Oh, so we're talking about the guy who was +9 at 5v5 last year when he wasn't carrying around Brendan Smith?

I think he's probably where he should be.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Yeah look at this STUD

View attachment 921413

Theres Savard that incredible D that Gms will tripping over themselves to trade a 1 st for … lol . Pretty on par for his play the last several years … ha

 

[Hisch13r]

Keefe's not wrong. Kovacevic earned his spot over Nemec.

Nemec would probably be better served getting reps in the AHL. Bring in an older AHL D to sit in the pressbox.

Only way Nemec might be moving is if he is an entitled brat who demands a trade because he lost a spot due to his own poor play.

 

[Jamaican Patty]

Theres Savard that incredible D that Gms will tripping over themselves to trade a 1 st for … lol . Pretty on par for his play the last several years … ha

Brad Treliving seems like one of those GMs. Dude is the definition of “just mess my shit up fam” lol

 

[Hisch13r]

Theres Savard that incredible D that Gms will tripping over themselves to trade a 1 st for … lol . Pretty on par for his play the last several years … ha

Meanwhile… Kovacevic really would’ve been a perfect partner for Hutson

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Meanwhile… Kovacevic really would’ve been a perfect partner for Hutson

View attachment 922984

Only way to go is up

Brad Treliving seems like one of those GMs. Dude is the definition of “just mess my shit up fam” lol

He’s certainly capable of tomfoolery but I’m hoping he’s wised up . But if he does deal for him rest rest assured I’ll be ripping it ; Leafs fan or not .

 

[Michoulicious]

Sent back yet again to the AHL.

 

[My3Sons]

Sent back yet again to the AHL.

Yet again? He hasn’t been there since thr beginning of last season.

 

[Antiillafire]

Sent back yet again to the AHL.

Cotton-Nemec on Nitra’s top pairing will do great things.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Makes no sense having him sit. Better to be playing I'm the AHL. Plenty of talent.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Is Nemec just nowhere as talented offensively as originally thought because the Slovak league isn't as good as some think? Or just issues of a young defenseman still adjusting to North American pro hockey?

 

[hellwar9]

Is Nemec just nowhere as talented offensively as originally thought because the Slovak league isn't as good as some think? Or just issues of a young defenseman still adjusting to North American pro hockey?

As a Slovak I choose the first option. But that doesn't change the fact that one day, with the right development, he will be a quality NHL player, but he was obviously a bit overhyped.

 

[FlyguyOX]

Is Nemec just nowhere as talented offensively as originally thought because the Slovak league isn't as good as some think? Or just issues of a young defenseman still adjusting to North American pro hockey?

I think the problem is the prospect system around him. Two older offensive specialist D-man in the system in Hughes and Casey puts him in a weird place.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I think the problem is the prospect system around him. Two older offensive specialist D-man in the system in Hughes and Casey puts him in a weird place.

Plus Hamilton is ahead of him on the right shot D depth chart, while Kovacevic has been a pleasant surprise this season. Makes the window of opportunity tighter for Nemec for this season at least.

 

[Xirik]

I think the problem is the prospect system around him. Two older offensive specialist D-man in the system in Hughes and Casey puts him in a weird place.

Nemec was never hyped as a points machine. Just an great all situations guy that logs big minutes and gets 30-40 points a season. It's the Veterans Pesce and Kovacevic that are blocking him right now.

Even before the draft the comparison on the Devils board for him was Brian Rafalski

Casey is less then a month older then Nemec so you are right on that.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Nemec was never hyped as a points machine. Just an great all situations guy that logs big minutes and gets 30-40 points a season. It's the Veterans Pesce and Kovacevic that are blocking him right now.

Even before the draft the comparison on the Devils board for him was Brian Rafalski

Casey is less then a month older then Nemec so you are right on that.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, because I was a new teenage hockey fan during the late stages of Rafalski's career and didn't know that much about hockey, but didn't he put up many 55+ point seasons in the dead puck era? I don't think you can say "Nemec projects as a 30-40 point defenseman in today's extremely high scoring NHL" and then compare him to Rafalski in the same post.