New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec was ranked number two on Scott Wheelers 'Top 75 Drafted Prospects List'. Seamus Casey and Arseni Gritsyuk received honourable mentions.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec was ranked number two on Scott Wheeler's Top 75 Drafted Prospects List (from 'Ranking the top 75 drafted NHL prospects: Matvei Michkov leads Scott Wheeler’s 2024 list' The Athletic, 03/04/24). Seamus Casey and Arseni Gritsyuk received honourable mentions.
Nemec appeared second on Wheeler's list only behind Matvei Michkov, the Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick in 2023. Nemec was the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft and since then has only continued to improve. Nemec spent his D-1 season playing for the Utica Comets in the AHL. He played in 65 games scoring 12 goals and 34 points.
Nemec began this season with the Comets and after 13 games he was called up to play for the Devils and hasn't looked back. Nemec has played in 40 games this season scoring two goals and 16 points. He's already become an important part of the current Devils roster and his role will only grow as he continues to get older.
Wheeler says he has always been a fan of Nemec and described what makes Nemec great.
"He’s a calculated and poised three-zone defender who is capable of organizing play from the top of the zone, executing through seams in coverage at a high level and starting and leading his fair share of rushes. He’s got great edges and four-way mobility, which he uses to manipulate and steer play through intelligent routes on and off the puck."
The first of two honourable mentions was Seamus Casey. Casey is currently playing for the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA. Casey is in his second season with the Wolverines where he has been producing offensively. This season he has seven goals and 38 points in 34 games as a defenseman. He also had a strong World Juniors where he put up six assists en route to winning gold with Team USA.
Casey was a teammate of Luke Hughes in his freshman season. Casey ran the second power-play unit and still put up 29 points in 37 games.
Following a similar build to Nemec, Wheeler had high praise for the game Casey plays.
"I really like a lot of his tools in isolation. When he’s on, there’s an unmistakable flow to his game where the puck just moves through him to its next destination within the pace of play, whether that’s a heady outlet out of a D-to-D pass or a quick carry into a cross-ice pass to allow his teammates to get open for him. Inside the offensive zone, he can make things happen with his blend of mobility and handling (he walks the line effortlessly but he also handles the puck like a forward one-on-one). He stops and cuts back on a dime to easily lose tracking forwards. He skates so well (though better on his edges than in a straight race). Inside the defensive zone, he thrives escaping past pressure."
The second of the two honourable mentions was Arseni Gritsyuk. Gritsyuk is a bit older than Casey and Nemec who are both born in 2004. Gritsyuk was born in 2001 and was taken in the fifth round by the Devils in the 2019 NHL draft.
Gritsyuk is playing in the KHL for SKA St. Petersburg. He finished the season in the KHL scoring 19 goals and 38 points in 50 games.
Wheeler believes the 22-year-old Russian can be a valuable piece to the Devils top nine.
"He’s comfortable in puck possession as a handler against top defenders and his skill level distinguishes his game. His shot is dangerous and he has added a hard one-timer to his toolbox. He has also grown an inch (now 5-foot-11) and added 20-plus pounds (now 192) since the draft, to remove some of the worries about his once small and skinny frame."
Casey and Gritsyuk are both expected to sign their entry-level contracts once their seasons end.
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