When the New Jersey Devils selected Šimon Nemec second overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, many fans wondered why they would take a defenseman that high with the talent still available. Instead, New Jersey stuck to their guns and made the best decision for their franchise at the time. He was the best available defenseman in the draft, and they took their chance to flesh out an already solid prospect pool. They already had Luke Hughes in the pipeline after drafting him fourth overall the year before, and now they chose to complement him with a savvy right-shot blueliner with solid two-way potential. Looking back on it now, they look really good taking Nemec when they did.
When he came to North America, the highest-drafted Slovak-born defenseman immediately stepped in and became an impact player. In 78 games with the American Hockey League’s Utica Comets, he scored 14 goals and 28 assists, totaling 42 points. In his rookie season in 2023-24 – a season in which he wasn’t supposed to play in the NHL — he made incredible strides and proved he was way more NHL-ready than originally thought.
Nemec’s Skillset
Nemec is a jack-of-all-trades defenseman who leans on his offensive talent and booming shot to chip in on the scoresheet. At 6-foot-1 and 198 pounds, he isn’t the tallest or biggest defenseman, but he uses his savvy stick-checking ability to defend and strip pucks. He’s a smart defender who doesn’t need size to beat players one-on-one. He uses his stick-checking to generate transition plays to initiate the rush for his team, and with all the prowess he’s shown this past season, many can see the offensive upside the Devils drafted him for.
“Nemec consistently puts himself in the right positions to create. He sprints up the ice in all situations, activates from the point, moves upon pass receptions, and tries the odd complex give-and-go activation play. There are moments of creativity with the puck, like delaying and passing cross-ice for a clean breakout or a fake shot becoming a pass just as the puck leaves his stick. Pinches at the right times, and has the reactionary skill to evade pressure and maintain the zone.”
For a player who spent most of his professional hockey career overseas, Nemec showed an incredible adaptability to playing in a new country and for multiple different teams. He showed poise for his age, and his eagerness to get pucks on net has made him impactful for the Devils offensively. Being thrust into…
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