Nemec has been used sparingly this season, playing only nine games and averaging 16:07 time-on-ice, down nearly four minutes from the 19:52 he averaged last season. The 20-year-old Slovak had 19 points (3G / 16A) in 60 games last season.
Nemec was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. It's unclear if this is injury related or if Nemec is simply a healthy scratch.
Nemec left and Olympic Qualifying game a few weeks ago with an upper-body injury after getting tangled up with a member of Team Kazakhstan. Luckily for the Devils, who will already be without Luke Hughes to start the season, Nemec was on the ice on Thursday and was a full participant in Day 1 of training camp.
Nemec was a healthy scratch for the Devils' previous game as Travis Green wanted him to have a "reset" but will draw back into New Jersey's lineup on Thursday vs. St. Louis. The 20-year-old rookie has made an impressive impact in his first season in New Jersey, with two goals, 16 points, 54 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 40 games played this season.
Brendan Smith will likely draw into the lineup on Tuesday if Nemec is a healthy scratch. Nemec played 16:18 time-on-ice last night and recorded two shots on goal. The Slovak defender has been held off the scoresheet in four straight games.
Nemec was the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and will make his NHL debut Friday vs. San Jose after Dougie Hamilton (pectoral strain) was placed on the Injured Reserve Friday. The 19-year-old defensemen had been thriving in his first season with Utica (AHL) prior to his call up, with two goals, six assists, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 13 games played.
In correspondence to Dougie Hamilton being placed on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the Devils have recalled Nemec from the Utica Comets of the AHL. The second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has not played an NHL game yet but has eight points (2G / 6A) in 13 games with the Comets this season.
The Devils selected Nemec with the No.2 overall pick in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old Slovakian defenseman had 26 points (1G / 25A) in 39 games with Nitra MHC (Slovak Extraliga) last season. He also represented Slovakia at the 2022 World Juniors (one assist in two games) and the 2022 Olympics (one assist in seven games).
