The New Jersey Devils are dealing with many injuries as the Four Nations Faceoff break approaches. They continue to be without goaltender Jacob Markstrom and captain Nico Hischier. However, they lost defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler Tuesday night in the team’s 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. That injury allowed Simon Nemec to get a second chance to prove he can play at the NHL level.
New Jersey announced on Thursday morning that, ahead of their game with the Vegas Golden Knights, they placed Hischier on injured reserve retroactive to January 25th. It was in that game against the Montreal Canadiens that Hischier got hurt. He left the second period after getting a cross-check of the ribs from Nick Suzuki of the Canadiens.
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However, the bigger news was that the Devils recalled Simon Nemec from the AHL affiliate Utica Comets. After the game Tuesday night, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Jonas Siegenthaler would miss some time as he was still being evaluated for his lower-body injury.
After a struggling start to the season, the Devils sent Nemec to the AHL to work on his offensive and defensive skills. New Jersey had many players who could move the puck and generate offense from the backend, but they needed another defenseman who could be a steady stay-at-home guy who could contribute when called up.
It took some time for Nemec to adjust to playing in the AHL. In his first 12 games with the Comets, he scored only three points. However, from then on, he picked up his game, recording 19 points over 20 games. That performance earned him a spot in the AHL All-Star Challenge. Nemec competed in several events and looked good in the game as well.
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During the season for the Comets, he has 22 points (five goals and 17 assists) and a plus-9 rating in 32 games. There is excitement around Nemec coming back to New Jersey. Remember, Nemec had some comments a couple of weeks ago about the situation he was in and that he was not happy being in the AHL. He felt he was an NHL player.
“It’s hard to say; it’s still too early to request a trade. If this situation continues, it will have to be addressed, but, for now, this is how it stands.” Nemec said to Dennik Sports Tomas Prokop. “I believe I’ve proven multiple times that I belong in the NHL. I just have to wait for another chance.”
Well, now Nemec is going to get that chance to prove he can play in the NHL. Similar to how he lost his position in the lineup when Johnathan Kovacevic outperformed him in training camp and the regular season or when Seamus Casey took advantage of injuries to Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce, Nemec has the chance to solidify his position in the lineup.
Again, Kovacevic is due a new contract at the end of the season. His play and extension might have made Nemec expendable. Though the Devils don’t have any interest in trading Nemec. It does not make sense from their perspective. Why give up on a defensive prospect like that?
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But now, Sheldon Keefe, Tom Fitzgerald, and the rest of the Devils coaching and management staff will want to see his improved play in his own zone. Simon Nemec has a couple of games left to show what he can do in the NHL before the break before he continues his play in the AHL during Four Nations.
But depending on the length of the Siegenthaler injury, he could be back up with the big club by the end of February. Again, if Simon Nemec is going to be a part of the Devils future, he needs to show the progress he made in the AHL. Nemec has the ability to be an NHL defensemen. He hopes it is for the Devils.
This is the first step in showing he can play at this level and take advantage of a second chance.
