February 15, 2025
Three scenarios for Simon Nemec from the Devils
NHL

Three scenarios for Simon Nemec from the Devils

Simon Nemec

<p>Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images</p>
<p>” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mLmow0LuBJV2bFPg6_juaA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoP TY0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_hockey_news_articles_331/f86585389502a32fbd2e09d5010d4c05″ data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mLmow0LuBJV2bFPg6_juaA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDt oPTY0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_hockey_news_articles_331/f86585389502a32fbd2e09d5010d4c05″/><button class=
Simon Nemec

Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils recently sparked trade rumors with comments about his recent stint with the Utica Comets of the AHL. Since being drafted with the second overall pick in 2022, Nemec has bounced back and forth between the minors and the NHL this season and last.

The Slovakian blueliner is just 20 years old, but his comments combined with the Devils’ Stanley Cup contender status appear to have muddied the waters of his future in New Jersey.

Here are three possible scenarios GM Tom Fitzgerald could explore in the coming weeks:

Devils Trade Nemec

New Jersey has a tailback on the right side of its D-corps, a problem most NHL teams would like to have. Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce are currently among the regular players, while Jonathan Kovacevic has developed into a mainstay alongside Jonas Siegenthaler. Despite only being a fourth-round pick last summer, Kovacevic has earned the right to negotiate a possible contract extension.

Considering the Devils’ prospect pool, which includes Seamus Casey and Anton Silayev, the Devils may not need Nemec, especially if he’s locked out of a top-pairing role for the foreseeable future.

Nemec also performed poorly in his nine-game NHL stint earlier this season – according to MoneyPuck, the Devils controlled less than 43 percent of scoring opportunities with him on the ice. While he’s building confidence and racking up points in the AHL, it’s not clear if he “deserves” NHL time given his past struggles.

However, he is still a blue-chip prospect that many teams would like to acquire. For all their firepower, New Jersey ranks just 15th in 5-on-5 goals, so the opportunity to acquire a true top-six scorer is on the table before the trade deadline. With names like JT Miller and Brock Nelson floating around in trade rumors, the Devils have a tempting advantage to exploit.

The Devils are also no strangers to trading a high-draft blueliner. In 2016, they sent 2011 fourth overall pick Adam Larsson to Edmonton for Taylor Hall, who went on to win the Hart Trophy and lead New Jersey back to the playoffs. While this success was short-lived, the Devils replaced Hall with Kevin Bahl and forward Dawson Mercer, who was one of the top six players. Bahl was brought in to acquire Jacob Markstrom, so using trade assets to address positional deficiencies has worked well for the Devils in the past.

“Devils give Nemec another chance in the NHL squad”

In Nemec’s 69 career NHL games, he simply wasn’t ready for the important role he had to play. In 60 games last season, he played nearly 20 minutes a night, which left the teenager underwater. And while he wasn’t a standout player at the start of this season, he was coming off an injury sustained during the Olympic qualifiers for Slovakia in August that appeared to have lasted through the entire training camp and preseason.

This time around, Nemec is healthy and has 18 points in 25 games for Utica. He has built up his defense and shown his ability to occasionally take over games. He even scored five points against the Hartford Wolfpack on January 15th.

He’s also been in hot demand lately, scoring 12 points in his last nine games. His ability to move the puck could provide a huge boost to a Devils team that has won just twice in the last ten games.

Devils are keeping Nemec in the AHL – for now

The least exciting of the three options may be the most likely. Nemec turns 21 in February and is still considered a potential No. 1 right-back, an extremely rare commodity.

The Devils could get a significant return on Nemec to bolster their playoff run, but the young defenseman’s skill set is nearly irreplaceable. Nemec could be blocked by the Devils’ strong depth chart this season, but patience is a virtue when it comes to the defenseman. It’s rare for defensemen Nemec’s age to become effective NHL starters, even ones with his pedigree. And while the Adam Larsson trade paid off, he eventually became a key shutdown defenseman for Edmonton and later Seattle.

He was also named to the AHL All-Star Classic, which may be a small achievement compared to regular NHL duty, but represents some recognition of the value he brings to the organization.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *