New Jersey Devils
Some Bad Luck Might Save Simon Nemec’s Devils’ Future
Johnathan Kovacevic’s diagnosis is unfortunate. However, it might have saved Simon Nemec’s Devils future.
Credit where it’s due. Simon Nemec did a lot in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to restore faith in him as a player. However, some rotten luck very well could have saved his future in the New Jersey Devils organization.
Nemec played the hero in Game 3, scoring the double overtime winner that cut the Carolina Hurricanes’ series lead to 2-1. It was a confident play where the 21-year-old defenseman gained the offensive zone with the puck on his stick, and rifled the rubber by Frederik Anderson.
However, it wasn’t just the overtime goal that garnered Nemec plenty of positive praise in the postseason. Amid key injuries, Sheldon Keefe looked to Nemec to step up, and he certainly came through as a reliable blueliner for New Jersey.
His positive play in the playoffs is certainly a factor. Yet, it’s Johnathan Kovacevic‘s injury status that very well could have changed the course of direction for Nemec and the Devils.
At break up day, Kovacevic explained he’s to have surgery on his knee this summer. As a result, he doesn’t anticipate he will be ready for training camp and the start of the 2025-26 season.
There was a time this season when Nemec was the center of trade rumors as the result of some comments that were poorly transcribed.
READ MORE: Simon Nemec Clarifies Comments, Trade Rumors, Devils Future
At the time, the Devils denied the notion. They were uninterested in moving on from their former second overall selection, and Nemec clarified he felt the same.
Yet, as the season progressed, Nemec proved to still be a work in progress.
However, coming into a huge summer, one where the Quinn Hughes rumors will likely resurface at some point, and the need for another top-forward grows, there is a scenario that’s not unfathomable where you can see New Jersey entertaining the idea of moving Nemec for a need.
Add the fact that the right side of the blueline is locked up for the next several years between Brett Pesce, Dougie Hamilton, and Kovacevic, the path to regular minutes in the NHL is not clear.
Until now.
We have yet to find out just how long Kovacevic is going to be out after he has surgery on his knee.
By the sound of it, however, it doesn’t sound like it will be short.
That potentially opens the door for Nemec to build on his playoff performance and establish himself as a regular on the blueline.
Ironically, that’s exactly how Kovacevic changed the course of his career.
Whereas Kovacevic once stole Nemec’s spot by way of performance, the situation can certainly reverse itself. The difference is that this time, Kovacevic has a five-year contract to lean on. He’s not going anywhere.
So what does that mean for Nemec? Only time will tell. But the door is open for him to prove he belongs.
The cliché is true, it’s a good problem to have this embarrassment of riches should Simon Nemec develop into what they believed he could be when the Devils selected him second overall in 2022.
Nemec’s playoff performance was just a taste of what he’s capable of. It’s now up to him to prove he belongs, should he be first in line this fall to claim Kovacevic’s vacant spot.
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