There are also growing pains for Dmen picked at 2 or 3 Rd as well and there is no need for panic here.
RD Simon Nemec (2022, 2nd, NJD)
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Blissfully Mediocre
Fatass
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Nemec is a top two pick. Was there another top two selected D who has struggled like this? Barker was picked 3OA. But for top two picks I’m not remembering one. D picked that high are sure bets. They’re not projects, which Nemec appears to be.
Dirtyf1ghter
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At this point I wish he was a project. He's gone the opposite direction.
Dirtyf1ghter
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Most of the defenseman drafted in the top 10 have gone to the opposite direction. 2022 has a weird year to draft in the top 10.
Some weird hate going on here. While Nemec was bad in the last game he was fine the couple of games before that. I don’t think it was a coincidence his worst showing came after Kovacevic extended. My guess is that he will start to look better down the stretch and they will move him in the offseason.
BomaLightDevils
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He will be fine, he’s been solid and playing as expected in he’s first two seasons and now he’s having a hard time.
It’s not a good time to put in a young player when looking at NJD overall performance since January.
Started the season with a injury and didn’t have the preseason.
Kid has performed tremendously from he’s 17 years season and until now.
Great in Nitra for two years
Great in he’s first ahl season
Great in he’s first nhl season
Great in ahl this year
In between he’s played wjc, u18 and a good wc.
So 4-5 years of great hockey and now suddenly because he’s had 1 month of not looking good he’s suddenly a bust.
HF scouts as it always is.
It’s not a good time to put in a young player when looking at NJD overall performance since January.
Started the season with a injury and didn’t have the preseason.
Kid has performed tremendously from he’s 17 years season and until now.
Great in Nitra for two years
Great in he’s first ahl season
Great in he’s first nhl season
Great in ahl this year
In between he’s played wjc, u18 and a good wc.
So 4-5 years of great hockey and now suddenly because he’s had 1 month of not looking good he’s suddenly a bust.
HF scouts as it always is.
Spearmint Rhino
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viceroy
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I won't go so far as calling him a bust but those that stated that he was going to be 1st pairing and such have egg on their faces.
At least Mailloux' got the excuse that he missed out on like 2 important seasons of development. It's hard to make up for that, ever. That's why I'm doubtful that Cayden Lindstrom will be able to one day course correct.
Nope. People were going on and on about him so last season I keyed on him and watched him for a few games and came away unimpressed. Not saying he was bad but he didn't give signs that he would develop one day into a dominant 1st pairing guy.
Another young Slovakian I had my doubts on was our very own Juraj Slafkovsky. His rookie season was a disaster and I was highly disappointed. However he really pulled it together in his offseason. Some were still critical early in his sophomore season but I could see a change. The results took a bit of time and if all you did was stat watch you couldn't tell but his whole demeanor had evolved.
Nemec on the other hand hasn't. I think he believes the hype. The glazing has warped him and now he's stuck.
BomaLightDevils
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Named to the ahl all star team. Will gladly go from great to good. But playing on the worst team in the league can help make you look worse then you are.
He definitely has not shown he’s good play with the Devils but who have the last two months.
Not an easy task to jump in to a team who is at the bottom for the last two months and still going.
He must lift he’s play but the talk about him declining and almost busting. Let’s try to discuss these players from a balance perspective and not from one end of the pole to the other.
Fatass
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AHL All Star at 21.
One of the few that is a + on a very weak team.
Decent production after a slow start.
Only one defenseman his age is establishing himself this year (Hutson) so it is not as though it is common that U21 D are in the NHL playing significant roles.
Looking at U21 last year, he was already third (behind L. Hughes and Mintyukov who are both regressing this year, too). Clarke wasn't doing much better than Nemec is doing this year.
Dmen take time.
And in fairness, another Slovak from that draft (Mesar) is also turning into a bust.
Jacob
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This is well said by him and Nemec needs to come to grips that if he is hurting the team and next year he is in Utica use that time to round out your game and fix your deficiencies at defense....I think he struggles that he's not able to learn at the NHL level in the past and now here is his chance...If he's benched learn while sitting in the seats and next time in a game focus on eliminating the bad positioning...A lot of young guys go through this and I feel once he gets it through his head that play in the NHL is earned not given he'll be ok...Has a lot of skill just needs to battle his own approach towards the game...
That requires maturity and professionalism. Does he have it?
At this time it certainly doesn't look like it. If he had Jesper Bratt's brain and professionalism it would be a completely different ball game. Maybe he can learn at least some of it, he is still young... But then again, I would not be surprised if they trade him in the summer. There is no space for him anyway for a few more years unless they trade Dougie.
He's going to be fine. just the usual sky is falling opinions and other fanbases wanting him to fail.
viceroy
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Czech your slovaks at the door.So what you're saying is don't draft Slovaks?
