New Jersey Devils

Devils GM Gets Real With Defenseman Simon Nemec

Amid Simon Nemec’s demotion, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald explains from his perspective why the former second overall pick is playing with the Utica Comets this season.

Published

4 weeks ago

December 20, 2024

James Nichols

New Jersey Devils' Simon Nemec (17) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEWARK—Over a month ago at this point, the New Jersey Devils reassigned former second overall pick in 2022, Simon Nemec, to the Utica Comets. Nemec was an assumed shoo-in for the 2024-25 roster after he was recalled by the Devils in 2023-24 amid a plethora of injuries and excelled. However, a slow start to the 2024-25 season sent Nemec to the minors to work on his game. So, what did general manager Tom Fitzgerald see from his perch while watching Nemec?

Reassigning a top prospect to the minors hasn’t been an uncommon practice throughout the NHL this season. Recently, the Columbus Blue Jackets thought it was best for top prospect defenseman, David Jiricek, to continue his development at the American Hockey League level, and reassigned him to the Cleveland Monsters.

However, the client of Allan Walsh didn’t take all too well to the reassignment, and ultimately ended up with a new start in Minnesota after Wild GM Bill Guerin traded for the former sixth overall pick in 2022.

Fitzgerald explained his conversation with Nemec about his reassignment was as real as it gets.

“Well, it’s never easy when you’re reassigning a kid, literally, to the American Hockey League after spending their journey of the time last year with the big club,” Fitzgerald started. “But the reality is, it’s meritocracy, man, like we’re here to win, and if you can’t help and contribute, you’re not going to play. And a young player like that, if he’s not playing, he’s not sitting.”

In his rookie year, Nemec scored three goals and 19 points in 60 NHL games, replacing the services of then-injured Dougie Hamilton almost at an unexpected rate. In fact, his defending was what was astounding, showing a poised level of confidence in his own end and a sense of urgency in his game.

However, for some reason those qualities didn’t present themselves to start the 2024-25 season. Yes, it’s true that he spent the majority of his time in the NHL this season next to rookie Seamus Casey. However, it was Nemec’s standalone play that raised concerns, showing defensive deficiencies and a lack of the urgency we saw in his first year.

With the breakout season Johnathan Kovacevic is having, the team knowing Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce’s returns were around the corner, Nemec was the odd-man out on the blueline.

“We had the luxury to send him down because of his age, he doesn’t need waivers. And it was a demand,” Fitzgerald continued. “There is a demand to go down and work on the things you need to work on. Be better aware of your surroundings and people behind you. It’s not just about offense. We don’t need offense. We need guys to defend and be hard to play against and actually really thrive in that area.”

He’s down in Utica now for 14 games, collecting four assists along the way. The low point total shouldn’t be a concern. The Devils want to develop Nemec’s defensive side of the game first. Once he can make the defending his second nature, Nemec is offensively talented enough that the points will come.

For now, it’s about working on the part of the game the Devils told Nemec he needs to improve. And not only work on it, but want to be better in the small areas of his game which will lead to bigger results.

The good news is, as opposed to Jiricek’s stance on his reassignment, Nemec took Fitzgerald’s message well.

“The coaches down [in Utica] know exactly what they need to do, but at the end of the day, the individual has to want to do it.” Fitzgerald concluded. “And he has. His attitudes been great down there. He’s working hard. So we’re really happy about that. And when we do have injuries, it’s going to be the next man up, not just him or someone else. It’s ‘who’s playing well down there that can help us?’”