According to a team announcement, the New Jersey Devils have reassigned defenseman Simon Nemec to their AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets. Due to a slow start to the season and a fully healthy New Jersey blue line Nemec hasn’t seen game action with the Devils since October 22nd.
It’s reasonable that any organization would want regular playing time for one of their highest-ranked prospects, especially one drafted second overall only three years ago. Still, the move back to Utica feels like a step backward in Nemec’s development.
It’ll be his first playing time in the AHL since last year although he would only suit up in 13 games for the Comets. However, his familiarity with the team doesn’t begin there, as Nemec played 65 games for Utica in the 2022-23 AHL season, scoring 12 goals and 34 points from the blue line.
Nemec debuted and got an extended look in New Jersey last year thanks to a few key injuries on the team’s blue line. He scored three goals and 19 points in 60 games while averaging 19:52 of ice time per game. His 50.6% CorsiFor% in all situations and final E +/- of 6.9 showed that he held his own defensively despite being only 19 years old.
The first nine games of the 2024-25 NHL season haven’t gone as well for Nemec who’s experiencing a dropoff in nearly every statistical category. The decline in play lost him some confidence with the coaching staff too as his ice time was cut by almost four minutes on average.
Upon the return of Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce, he quickly became a healthy scratch. Now that they’re fully healthy, both defensemen should have a consistent role in the lineup meaning the team needed to find playing time elsewhere for Nemec.
Nemec’s not entering the best situation in Utica with the Comets being the only AHL team still searching for their first win on the 2024-25 campaign. Still, the silver lining is Nemec immediately becomes the best defenseman on the team and should have a regular role in most situations.