Highly touted prospect for the New Jersey Devils, Simon Nemec will make his National Hockey League debut against the San Jose Sharks.
When opportunity knocks, you'd better be ready to answer.
For second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft Simon Nemec, an injury to blue-line general Dougie Hamilton and suspension to Brendan Smith has presented an opportunity for the 19-year-old to make his unexpected National Hockey League debut.
Nemec has been called up from New Jersey's AHL affiliate Utica Comets and is expected to make his NHL debut tonight against the San Jose Sharks, with The Hockey News New Jersey Devils correspondent Kristy Flannery reporting that coach Lindy Ruff shared that, "He will be in the lineup tonight, for sure. (Nemec) knows exactly how he needs to play. I had a conversation with him and he is excited about his opportunity. We just need him to play well."
Nemec, again, just 19, has been fantastic this season for the Comets. The six-foot Slovak d-man has two goals and eight points in 13 games at the AHL level. He's coming off a 12-goal and 34-point campaign in 65 games in 2022-23.
The sought-after right-shot defenseman put up five points in five games with Slovakia at the 2023 World Junior Championship and was a member of the inaugural AHL Top Prospects Team.
As a junior, Nemec put up 26 points in 39 games for Nitra MHC in the Slovak league.