Nichols: It’s Time For the Devils to Make the Right Decision For Simon Nemec

As a healthy scratch for several games in a row through Monday, it’s time for the New Jersey Devils to make the right decision for Simon Nemec and his development. The Devils finished off a three-game road trip and are heading back to Newark having collected four of a possible six points. It’s mostly good news for New Jersey. However, a decision looms over management’s head regarding the development of the 2022 second overall selection.

The Devils have made this similar mistake before. A high profile, high draft selection was on a deep roster and was simply pushed down the depth chart for more veteran players who were outperforming him.

RELATED: Devils Need to Avoid a Familiar Mistake with Simon Nemec

Of course, we’re referring to Alexander Holtz — who is now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights — traded away in a package for Paul Cotter.

Reflecting upon how he handled the development of the Devils’ seventh overall selection in 2022, general manager Tom Fitzgerald conceded he should have done things differently.

“We’re not here to point blame on anybody. I can look at myself and say, maybe Alexander Holtz should have been in the American Hockey League two years ago when we had 112 points,” Fitzgerald admitted over the summer following free agency.

“But I felt that play development can also occur at the National Hockey League level when you’re practicing every day with the Nico Hischier’s, the [Jesper] Bratt’s, the Jack Hughes’ and shooting on NHL goalies and going up against NHL defenseman. Versus being down and just being able to score down in the American Hockey League. Being pushed is development. I don’t think it’s any one person or any one division. I’d like to think the players also look in the mirror and say I could be better. But at the end of the day, we were at a standstill — quite honestly — with Alex.”

The Devils are now in a very similar situation with Nemec.

The Slovakian defenseman has been a healthy scratch for six games in a row, last drawing into the lineup on Oct. 22nd against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe explained that Nemec is going to have to practice patience while absorbing as much as he can from the eagle eye

“He’s going to have to be patient right now and continue to work and learn,” Keefe finalized. “He’s still a young guy with lots to learn and lots of room to grow.”

Yet, how long is too long to wait before the player’s development begins to trend in a negative direction? As of Tuesday, Nemec hasn’t played a game in two full weeks, which seems less than ideal.

A few things are true here. The Devils did not expect Johnathan Kovacevic to grab the bull by the horns the way he did. The former Montreal Canadiens defenseman has been one of the Devils’ strongest and most consistent blue liners with his simple approach to keep the game in front of him. It is also true that Nemec’s play didn’t jump off the page for Keefe, and he even trusted rookie Seamus Casey — despite his demotion — in situations over Nemec. In fact, Keefe admitted as much upon removing Nemec from the lineup.

“We’ve got great depth on defense. [Nemec], Casey and Kovacevic got really good opportunities early in the season because of our [injuries],” Keefe explained. “Kovacevic, to me, has really taken off and capitalized on it, and there’s not as much opportunity here now. So it’s more of a number’s situation.”

Heading into Alberta to take on the Edmonton Oilers, Keefe entertained the idea of dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen as a result of recent injuries. Instead, the Devils’ head coach opted to insert Kurtis MacDermid into the lineup to keep the chemistry going on the blue line.

“We talked about 11 [defensemen] and seven [forwards], trying to get Nemec involved,” Keefe said. “Ultimately, we just decided that seven is a little too disruptive to the defense group that for the most part has played quite well for us. So we didn’t want to disrupt that, and we wanted to get Kurtis [MacDermid] in.”

For those keeping count at home, the justifications to keep Nemec out of the lineup are mounting. He’s been outplayed, the depth has pushed him out of contention, and now the coaching staff doesn’t want to disrupt the blue line chemistry that’s been deployed over the last six games.

Fortunately, there is a logical solution.

The Devils need to reassign Nemec to the AHL, where he can play top minutes for the Utica Comets. They should have done it two years ago with Holtz, and they should do it now with Nemec for the benefit of his development.

The Devils sent defenseman Nick DeSimone through waivers at the beginning of the season in favor of keeping Nemec on the roster. They can recall the soon 30-year-old blue liner — who is no longer developing the way Nemec is — to be their seventh defenseman.

By no means would a decision like this mean Nemec won’t be a good defenseman to be labeled as a bust. He has shown all the tools of being a high-profile, top-4 — perhaps top-pairing — defenseman in spurts. He just needs the consistency to put all those tools together.

The best place for Nemec to do that at this moment is in the AHL. He can sharpen his skills and earn his way back onto the varsity roster, and that’s a decision that MUST come sooner than later.

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