RD Simon Nemec (2022, 2nd, NJD)

[My3Sons]

He’s been playing poorly for a while now. The fact that you say he was fine before that third period completely negate your point.

Except he was fine for the handful of games before that and he’d only played in 7 games since February started which completely negates your point. Beyond that you aren’t watching Devils games.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Nothing we say here matters lol. You could have made similar criticisms of Jiricek and he went for a solid haul. Does that necessarily hold true for Nemec? No idea. But I can guarantee there are a bunch of GMs out there willing to bet on him rebounding. He’s only 21.

Of course there is. They may not offer much but some GM will likely offer a lot.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

His offensive play is a big reason for his poor defense. He constantly cheats in the defensive zone and makes poor decisions at the offensive point leading to breaks the other way. He is very bad at playing the body and only makes weak stick plays in his own zone and doesn't seem to understand defensive positioning or leverage. Nemec constantly overcommits and doesn't have the skating ability to recover. He plays like a boy, not like a man.

I'm talking about defensive involvement.

That he currently does not have the level is not a debate.

Only one U21 defender currently has the level to be effective in the NHL.

On the other hand, I think you're completely wrong when you say he plays like a boy. He's a guy who's been playing for a very long time in the men's league (first game pro at 15) and he's doing well in the AHL in a league that's more manly than the NHL. It's just a problem of managing to transpose his usual game to a higher level. A brilliant pro career in the AHL/KHL/International player is a minimum already acquired for him.

 

[Guess]

lol at Reinbacher being a “blue chip” prospect. Bang up job you’re doing over there with yours though, including the guy taken before Nemec.

LOL what? Reinbacher has been injured for most of the season, how is that the organization's developmental problem? And keeping him in Europe was a fine decision, not their fault the team got much worse the season after.

He's going to be better than Nemec, sorry about that His decision making, ability to defend, and mobility are miles ahead of Nemec.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Except that Reinbacher is a year younger than Nemec and he’s already dominating the AHL since he came back from a 5 month long injury.

3 pts in 6 games, +7 despite no PP1 time and playing over 23 minutes a game. Our coach also said that he has been our best D by a wide margin since he came back and my own eye test from seeing him live last week agree with our coach statement.

You have enough to worry about with your own high end talent that you can’t develop properly that you should focus on those guys and not other teams blue chip prospects

Question: where are you getting minutes playing time? I have never seen that in AHL stats.

 

[blink]

I'm torn on Nemec. I feel like if we move on from this player too early he will come back to bite us in the ass. However, the situation he has been put in with NJ and his attitude speaks volumes about a player that is unhappy to be there.

I wish he had of been able to play the entire 2023-24 season in the AHL. Obviously, the injuries forced his callup where he played ok as a rookie. Maybe that gave him an attitude of entitlement of him thinking he is a full time NHLer.

At this point, he shouldn't be in the NHL. He should be in the AHL working on his weaknesses and development. The problem is he sulks when he gets sent down so what do you do with this player?

If he continues with this attitude he's definitely gone, only a matter of time. If someone can get him to listen and work on his game in the AHL he has a chance to be a top 4 guy in NJ. I'm not sure if they can wait that long on this player or not.

I'm sure Fitz listened on a bunch of offers for him at the deadline and ultimately decided to hang onto him for now. GMs salivate over this type of player, especially if they think they can be the key to unlocking his true potential.

 

[My3Sons]

I'm torn on Nemec. I feel like if we move on from this player too early he will come back to bite us in the ass. However, the situation he has been put in with NJ and his attitude speaks volumes about a player that is unhappy to be there.

I wish he had of been able to play the entire 2023-24 season in the AHL. Obviously, the injuries forced his callup where he played ok as a rookie. Maybe that gave him an attitude of entitlement of him thinking he is a full time NHLer.

At this point, he shouldn't be in the NHL. He should be in the AHL working on his weaknesses and development. The problem is he sulks when he gets sent down so what do you do with this player?

If he continues with this attitude he's definitely gone, only a matter of time. If someone can get him to listen and work on his game in the AHL he has a chance to be a top 4 guy in NJ. I'm not sure if they can wait that long on this player or not.

I'm sure Fitz listened on a bunch of offers for him at the deadline and ultimately decided to hang onto him for now. GMs salivate over this type of player, especially if they think they can be the key to unlocking his true potential.

Last season may have done him more harm than good. He showed he can be a reasonably successful NHL player but if he expects it to be handed to him he will be disappointed wherever he lands. Hard to see NJ keeping him at this point. I hope he can work it out and be the player he is capable of becoming.

 

[De Montreal]

Except that Reinbacher is a year younger than Nemec and he’s already dominating the AHL since he came back from a 5 month long injury.

3 pts in 6 games, +7 despite no PP1 time and playing over 23 minutes a game. Our coach also said that he has been our best D by a wide margin since he came back and my own eye test from seeing him live last week agree with our coach statement.

You have enough to worry about with your own high end talent that you can’t develop properly that you should focus on those guys and not other teams blue chip prospects

There is absolutely no way someone can believe a player is dominating a league on a 3 points in 6 games sample.

 

[BomaLightDevils]

Great game back after that horrible Winnipeg game.
Got pin in two times but else it looked good in the minutes he got.
Can’t forget the GWG against a really good opponent.
Keefe said that he responded very well upon he’s bad games, not only with he’s play but more with he’s attitude.

 

[viceroy]

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...

If he's in the A next season he's most probably going to ask to be traded.

The 37 year old journeyman playing ahead of the 2OA is actually an indictment of the younger player’s poor play.

27yr old actually.

To me, "bust" only refers to players that were highly touted (like a 2OA). They don't pertain to journeyman players like Kovacevic who has far exceeded expectations. Kovy is a wonderful story...

It'll be a solid career for a 3rd Rounder like him.

There is absolutely no way someone can believe a player is dominating a league on a 3 points in 6 games sample.

3pts in 6 games is pretty great for someone who's mostly a defensive defenseman.

 

[jgimp]

There is absolutely no way someone can believe a player is dominating a league on a 3 points in 6 games sample.

Habs fans can

 

[Coffee]

He’s coming along!

 

[theguybro]

Hopefully his last game gives him the confidence boost he really needs. Going forward he should be playing a lot with Siegs and Dougie out for season. I think he will be fine playing 3rd pairing minutes and 2nd PP.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

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.

Huh? Luke has been significantly better this year compared to last year...

 

[My3Sons]

Huh? Luke has been significantly better this year compared to last year...

I'm always amazed at the certainty of opinions offered by folks who don't even watch a particular team let alone a particular player on the team they don't pay attention to.

 

[KILLger]

Huh? Luke has been significantly better this year compared to last year...

Less minutes played per game, less points per game (5 points in the last 5 games brought his totals up and pretty much on par with last year) and a worst SAT% (and worst relative) sure are not demonstrating significative growth.

A week ago it was a bit of a regression. Just as with Mintyukov, I'm not worried at all... just that it is not a 'growth year' by anything that is measurable other than recency bias. Maybe less offensive starts?

I get that he started ice cold production-wise (2 points in his first 20 games) and I am not pretending that I am watching (other than some off games against the habs)... but looking at his numbers... my comment appears to be valid... moreso ignoring the past 5 games which I had no ways of predicting.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Less minutes played per game, less points per game (5 points in the last 5 games brought his totals up and pretty much on par with last year) and a worst SAT% (and worst relative) sure are not demonstrating significative growth.

A week ago it was a bit of a regression. Just as with Mintyukov, I'm not worried at all... just that it is not a 'growth year' by anything that is measurable other than recency bias. Maybe less offensive starts?

I get that he started ice cold production-wise (2 points in his first 20 games) and I am not pretending that I am watching (other than some off games against the habs)... but looking at his numbers... my comment appears to be valid... moreso ignoring the past 5 games which I had no ways of predicting.

That's why you should watch the games. Not a single devils fan would say he's regressed.

 

[Crosbysburner8787]

Less minutes played per game, less points per game (5 points in the last 5 games brought his totals up and pretty much on par with last year) and a worst SAT% (and worst relative) sure are not demonstrating significative growth.

A week ago it was a bit of a regression. Just as with Mintyukov, I'm not worried at all... just that it is not a 'growth year' by anything that is measurable other than recency bias. Maybe less offensive starts?

I get that he started ice cold production-wise (2 points in his first 20 games) and I am not pretending that I am watching (other than some off games against the habs)... but looking at his numbers... my comment appears to be valid... moreso ignoring the past 5 games which I had no ways of predicting.

Probably didn't help that Hamilton was on pp1 and Luke was on the third pair with pesce and playing on the 2nd pp with Tomas Tatar.

Had he been on pp1 from the start he's probably at 50 points as of now and his defensive game has been a lot better this year. Theres been absolutely no regression from him.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Last season may have done him more harm than good. He showed he can be a reasonably successful NHL player but if he expects it to be handed to him he will be disappointed wherever he lands. Hard to see NJ keeping him at this point. I hope he can work it out and be the player he is capable of becoming.

It's likely that few organizations have mishandled young defensemen prospects as badly as New Jersey has since the days of Lou U.

Going back to Damon Severson (and probably half a dozen others) the organization has inserted young defensemen into the NHL lineup before they were ready.

Nemec was no exception and the way he is being scapegoated now for not yet being NHL-ready having just turned 21 is an abomination.