Simon Nemec certainly picked the right season to seemingly start breaking out didn’t he?
Of all the free agents the Devils have coming up at the end of the 2025-26 season, Nemec is probably the most interesting one to look at. You can argue Arseny Gritsyuk might be more important, but I think Nemec presents a more interesting case just because of the team’s defense situation. The only Devils defenders set to hit free agency according to PuckPedia are Nemec himself and the two players that have been
called up due to injury, both of whom are inconsequential to the team’s long-term plans. This means the Devils still have Nemec and their other regular six defenders under contract for next season.
Now injuries certainly are a part of the NHL, and they definitely have been for the Devils this season, but let’s go with a crazy hypothetical for a second. What if…the Devils defense were to be completely healthy to start next season? The only defender who would be on a contract set to expire after next season is Brenden Dillon who is a lefty; the Devils clog is going to be on the right side where they have Dougie Hamilton (two seasons left), Johnny Kovacevic (four seasons) and Brett Pesce (four seasons) who under no circumstances should be traded. Those three combine for a cap hit of $18.5 million each season, with Hamilton representing just under half of that number. Affording Nemec won’t be the problem; the criticism will be if all four right handed defenders are on the roster next season, how much are they paying one of them to sit in the press box?
So there are some conflicting factors regarding how much Nemec might earn. In his favor, he’s having his best pro season to date at just 21 going on 22. Against him is the fact the Devils already have three other high paid RHD all under contract for at least two more seasons. What needs to be kept in mind is that the Devils aren’t exactly well stocked on the right side for the long term; most of the team’s better D prospects are lefties aside from Seamus Casey. The Devils’ right side isn’t exactly young, and young, talented prospects like Nemec aren’t easy to come by. However, there’s a chance the Devils could try to move on from one of their righties to do right by them and make sure they all have consistent playing time.
Speaking of which, we can’t forget as well that there are some people who think that Nemec’s next contract might be another team’s problem. With the fact that Hamilton is exiting his prime (and honestly hasn’t looked all that great in his own end this season), and Nemec seems to finally be finding his game this year, I don’t see him being dealt. Sure it would take for Tom Fitzgerald to get; that’s how most NHL trades work. But moving Nemec could potentially hurt the right side for the Devils for years to comes, especially if it’s in a deal for a player who you could allegedly get just for cap space in two summers.
I think we wind up seeing Nemec sign a bridge deal this summer. I don’t think he’s moved, but with Hamilton still have two more seasons and Tom Fitzgerald maybe being gun shy from how his most recent long-term contract for a defender is turning out, a bridge deal just lines up better. As per the numbers, I think that’s anyone’s guess. With the cap shooting up as much as it is, I’m not sure that even past comparable contracts are a good way to try and gauge what a player might get this upcoming summer. I do however believe he signs a new two year deal and then cashes in on a big, long-term deal once Hamilton’s current deal ends.
Nemec should be a big part of the future for the New Jersey Devils; his play is starting to reflect that and his contract eventually will as well.
What are your thoughts regarding what the Devils should do when Simon Nemec comes up for a new contract; do you see a bridge deal as the way they go? Would you rather the team sign him to a long-term deal? If they do, do you see the Devils moving on from another right handed defender? Leave any and all comments down below and thanks as always for reading.
