The New Jersey Devils have found something in Simon Nemec in his third season in the NHL. As the Devils continue to deal with injuries on the blueline, especially on the right side, Nemec once again delivered for New Jersey as they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime on National television.
Nemec’s Overtime Hat Trick Lifts Devils Past Blackhawks 4–3
It was the coming-out party for Nemec; many expected to see injuries to Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce. With each passing game, he is taking on more responsibilities, recording his first career hat trick, and capping off the night by completing the hat trick with the overtime winner for the Devils.
Simon Nemec comes up clutch for the first hat trick of his career‼️ pic.twitter.com/J8BLo1MONj
— NHL (@NHL) November 13, 2025
This is not an ideal situation for the Devils, asking Simon Nemec to punch above his weight again, but he is showing he is up to the task. And Nemec has been the guy the Devils have been looking to when there have been injuries over the last couple of seasons to come in and fill the void. It is never easy to come in and be asked to play on the top line as a 21-year-old defenseman in the NHL, but Nemec continues to rise to the occasion for the Devils.
“Yeah, it’s great,” Sheldon Keefe said when asked by the media about the hat trick Nemec had to propel the Devils to victory. “And he showed the forwards how to do it on all three goals (Keefe said jokingly). He’s in forward positioning and finishing it. A good one for him to find those spots and to finish. We worked this morning in our morning skate, a lot about activating our D and getting our defense involved. And he certainly was paying attention. So great day for a young player like that.”
According to NHL PR, Simon Nemec is the youngest defenseman in NHL history to score a hat trick and an OT goal in the same game. That is impressive for a kid who doesn’t think he is much of a goal scorer.
“I mean, like, that was probably my first hat trick in my career,” Nemec told the media after the win in Chicago. “Like, yeah, I was never like, the shooter or like scoring guys, so yeah, I’m glad for that.”
However, Nemec has the knack for coming up clutch for the Devils over these last couple of seasons as he continues to grow and develop his game. Last year in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Nemec scored the double overtime winner in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes to prevent the Devils from being swept.
New Jersey Devils Continue to Deal with the Injury Bug
Go back to his time playing for Slovakia at the Olympics, Worlds, and World Juniors, and he has delivered big goals. Who could forget the goal he scored against Canada in the World Juniors in a hostile environment? He added a little flair to the celebration, blowing kisses to the Canadian crowd.
The offensive game is there for Nemec, which the Devils knew would always be there, but they also wanted to work on his defensive play. Remember, before the season even began last year, Nemec got hurt during Slovakia’s Olympic qualifying, which put him behind the eight ball. The emergence of Johnathan Kovacevic did not help matters either. This meant Nemec was the odd man out and was sent to the AHL to develop his game.
When he returned in February of 2025, he was a different player who was more responsible in his own zone. Nemec began showing confidence and swagger in his ability in the last couple of games of last season and in the playoffs, where the Devils once again had injuries. That play has carried over into this season.
Devils News: New Jersey Gives Jacob Markstrom Two Year Extension
Dating back to the third period of the New York Islanders, where the Devils lost 3-2 in overtime, Nemec has recorded four of the last five goals New Jersey has scored. But as he stated after the game against the Islanders, it is all about trusting your skill set and playing your own game.
“For me. like it’s better to play more minutes, and then play my game,” Nemec told reporters following the Devils loss on Monday. “And I think I showed that last couple of games, but yeah, I just have to be patient and then be ready for everything.”
And that was the message Simon Nemec took with him from the end of last season into the offseason: always be ready. As a young player, he might have taken some things for granted last season. This year, he is working hard for every inch of ice. You can tell from his offseason training that he added some size and got quicker on the ice, too.
The fact that he is listening to the Devils’ coaching staff shows how special he can be for them. Now add in a great defensive mind like Brad Shaw, and Simon Nemec could be a mainstay on the Devils’ top-pair defensive unit moving forward.
Devils Rumors: Dougie Hamilton Will Remain with the New Jersey Devils For At Least The Season
Again, this is just his third season in the NHL. It does take time for defensemen to adjust to the pace and skill. However, playing with veteran defensemen like Jonas Siegenthaler or Brenden Dillon will only help make Simon Nemec a better player when he enters the peak of his career.
The New Jersey Devils knew what they were doing when they selected Simon Nemec second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. It might have taken some time, and we all know it is an Olympic year, but Nemec is turning into the defenseman many thought he would be back then.
Wednesday night in Chicago was his night, and the New Jersey Devils hope for more nights like that moving forward.
