Simon Nemec Returns To Devils Lineup Against Oilers
Simon Nemec will return to the New Jersey Devils lineup on Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers.
Mar 4, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec (17) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the New Jersey Devils at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesThe 21-year-old defenseman has been a healthy scratch over the last two games after a tough third-period outing against the Winnipeg Jets on Mar. 7. Misassignments and errors by Nemec allowed the Jets to score three goals in a span of five minutes.
"That player that played in the third period is in the wrong league; the player that played before that, throughout our road trip, can help us," Keefe said of Nemec's play against Winnipeg. "We have got to find some consistency.
"It is hard. This is not the league where you work through your growing pains on a team that has any sort of expectations," Keefe continued. "Players who aren't quite ready to contribute to teams that have expectations play in the minors. We need more from everyone. (Nemec) is a confident guy that thinks he can help our team play in this league, he will have lots of opportunity to show us right now but that wasn't it in the third and you can't reward that effort."
Keefe will take newly acquired defenseman Dennis Cholowski out of the lineup. Nemec is expected to begin the game with veteran Brenden Dillon.
"I think (Nemec has) played good hockey for us," Keefe said to NJD.TV. "He had one horrific period that we needed to rinse away and talk to him about. [...] I liked where his game was going; it just fell out. He needs to find that consistency."
"I just want to be better than the last game and show that I am ready for this chance," Nemec said to NJD.TV.
Tonight will be a big challenge for Nemec and the Devils' blue line, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl having a combined 46 points against New Jersey. Entering tonight's game, McDavid is on an eight-game point streak, while Draisaitl has collected at least one point in every game dating back to Jan. 27, 2025.
Puck drop between the Devils and Oilers will be at 7:30 p.m. Fans can watch on ESPN+ or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
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