Former 2nd overall pick has reportedly demanded a trade

According to Slovakian reporter Simon Cop, New Jersey Devils defenseman and 2022 2nd overall pick Simon Nemec has demanded a trade.

Cop also reports that new Devils GM Sunny Mehta has yet to offer Nemec a new contract and has failed to even communicate with the 22 year old defenseman.

Nemec entered the NHL with enormous expectations but has failed to live up to his draft status as the 2nd overall selection. Looking back though, it’s easy to understand why scouts were so high on him. Long before draft day, Nemec had already built a reputation as one of the smartest young defensemen outside the NHL. Playing professionally in Slovakia against grown men as a teenager, Nemec showcased elite hockey IQ, exceptional puck-moving ability and remarkable composure under pressure. Many scouts viewed him as the safest defenseman available in the draft thanks to his skating, vision and mature two-way game.

Since joining the Devils organization, Nemec has continued to show flashes of the player many believe could become a future top-pairing defenseman. After adjusting quickly in the American Hockey League with the Utica Comets, Nemec earned his NHL opportunity and immediately impressed with his confidence and poise. Unlike many young defensemen who struggle defensively early in their careers, Nemec looked calm and controlled almost immediately at the NHL level.

What continues to make Nemec so intriguing is his complete package. He can quarterback a power play, move the puck efficiently and defend responsibly without sacrificing offense. For a Devils organization loaded with young talent, Nemec still looks like one of the franchise’s most important long-term pieces on the blue line... that is, if they can convince him to stay.