The Devils had been most connected to Slovakian winger Juraj Slafkovsky but Montreal moved off the player that had been rated as the top player in the draft for most of the past year in center Shane Wright and plucked Slafkovsky with their first overall selection.
The decision placed the Devils and general manager Tom Fitzgerald in a bit of a pickle- do you draft the player rated by many as the top prospect in Shane Wright that plays a position that you already have two young players (Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes) that have already signed long-term extensions?
Or do you take a player that may be a little lower on the board but could be an eventual impact player at a position where the Devils are not nearly as deep (defenseman) and other than 2021 first-rounder Luke Hughes lack a young player with top-pairing potential?
Fitzgerald decided on the latter and added Nemec to a defensive corps that could need bolstering, perhaps sooner than later, should Damon Severson leave via free agency following the upcoming season.
Nemec was regarded along with another Slovakian native David Jiricek as the top defenseman in this draft and played most of last season in the top Slovakian pro league at 17 (Nemec turned 18 last February) along with playing in the World Championship for Slovakia and may have at least a chance of making the Devils next season, although I wouldn't guarantee that happening.
A right-handed shot, which Tom Fitzgerald mentioned in his press conference as something the team was looking for in a defenseman, Nemec is regarded as an excellent skater and passer and has drawn some comparisons to Victor Hedman, which means that Nemec would be offensively minded and solid at both ends of the ice.
If the Devils received even close to a Victor Hedman-level player in Simon Nemec (Hedman was also drafted second overall in his draft year), the Devils have done very well with Nemec.
The 6'1 Nemec seems to be the solid choice at a position of need but I do have to admit that I am a bit disappointed that the team had a chance to add the best player in the draft and they passed on him for a position of need.
From what I read ( and highlights) and see from Nemec, the Devils haven't blown this pick, t's just that I'm a big believer in taking the best player on the board in any draft.
Hopefully, Tom Fitzgerald has added a player that can slot into the lineup for the next ten years and possibly could become a building block for the next time that the Devils are ready to contend for a Stanley Cup.
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