James Nichols
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline passed and Simon Nemec is still a member of the New Jersey Devils. However, his future with the Red & Black has never been more uncertain.
The Devils were open to moving Nemec for a clear upgrade at forward by Friday’s 3 P.M. deadline. They weren’t looking to dump the 22-year-old defenseman for nothing, and certainly weren’t trying to move him for an uncertainties.
As for that pesky William Eklund rumor, there’s nothing to it.
Yet, Nemec’s days with the Devils feels inevitablly numbered.
Nemec thus far has had a strong 2025-26 season compared to 2024-25 when he played between the NHL and AHL clubs.
He’s established himself as one of New Jersey’s clutchest performers, scoring a handful of meaningful goals to help the Devils win pivotal games this seaosn. He’s still developing his game away from the puck, but with the rubber on his tape, Nemec is showing he has the tools required of a top-pairing defenseman.
And if his Devils sample size isn’t convincing enough, Nemec’s performance for Slovakia as their No.1 defenseman at the Olympics should be. He might have only registered two assists in six games while in Milan. However, he proved himself as a two-way defenseman with compete, a puck transitioner, and distributor against top competition, while logging some of the most minutes for his country.
So, what’s clouding his future in New Jersey?
Well, let’s start with GM Tom Fitzgerald‘s comments of the former second-overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft.
For whatever reason, whenever Nemec’s name comes up with the Devils GM, his answers lack a certain emphatic tone.
For example, here’s Fitzgerald’s response when asked if there’s any urgency to get Nemec—a pending restriced free agent—locked down to an extension.
“Yeah, well, he needs a contract,” Fitzgerald responded. “You know? He needs a contract. Where that goes? Again, that’s part of my job, but it’s not for today.”
That might seem like a standard response six months before the offseason when the Devils GM has more time to sort something like that out.
However, here’s Fitzgerald’s response to the same exact question in the same exact press conference for an extension with Arseny Gritsyuk.
“We do plan on that,” Fitzgerald beamed. “He was an unknown. You didn’t know what were gonna have [in him]. We talk about depth scoring, we didn’t know what we were gonna have in him and when a player like that comes in, and we feel he can pop and he can still be better, you feel very lucky to do this. So, yes.”
Fast forward to the post trade deadline press conference with the Devils GM, and Fitzgerald doubled down on his tone with respect to each player.
Yeah, we’ve talked to [Gritsyuk’s] agent,” Fitzgerald responded when asked if there’s been progress on an extension for the Russian forward.
“You know, he loves New Jersey. We own his rights. He’s been a wonderful, wonderful… I don’t want to say surprise, but he’s been a joy to watch. He adds so much to our team. I’m really looking forward to his development growth as he gets more comfortable with this league. But yes, absolutely, we see him long term.”
Again, the tone is far different regarding a potential Nemec extension.
“Well, that’s something we’ll go through when the season ends, and where his head is at,” Fitzgerald explained. “How does he see his future with what we have here already? Where he fits. You know, does he like New Jersey? What’s his thoughts? I’ll go through that with his agent.”
Fitzgerald’s comments do allude that perhaps it’s Nemec who doesn’t want to be here, as opposed to the Devils not wanting to retain him.
Yet, with Gritsyuk, there’s a clear emphasis on his long-term future in New Jersey. However, Nemec can’t seem to retrieve an inkling of confidence from the GM who took him so high in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Certainly, something reeks of discomfort in the relationship dynamic between the Devils and Nemec.
Nemec is due a new contract on July 1st and is offer-sheet eligible.
Whether another team swoops in and tries to steal the Slovak defenseman remains to be seen. However, a source tells New Jersey Hockey Now that the Nemec camp may start negotiations with Luke Hughes‘ number on his new contract.
That’s noteworthy given Nemec switched agents recently and is now represented by Craig Oster of Newport Sports Management.
Perhaps after the Devils pay Dougie Hamilton his $7.4 million bonus this summer, he’ll be an easier asset to move and New Jersey can keep both Luke and Nemec.
However, it seems even in Fitzgerald’s tone about Hamilton, the veteran blueliner is the favorable player despite the public comments made by his agent in December.
“I’m not sure what the misunderstanding was,” Fitzgerald said. “When [Hamilton] was a healthy scratch, he wasn’t playing well. He deserved to be scratched, and the story it’s so and he’s played great ever since, and I give him a lot of credit, he’s playing up to his capabilities, and when he’s doing that, he gives us a great chance of winning hockey games and being a strong part of it. I’m just gonna keep answering the questions the same way, like we’re going to evaluate everything once the season.”
There are 18 games to go in the 2025-26 season. It’s more than likely that the Devils pack it in early and end their season by the midway point of April.
After that, the Nemec watch begins. It could very well be the beginning of the end for him in New Jersey.
“We have seven NHL everyday players on our back end,” Fitzgerald said. “Trying to shake one of those loose here in the offseason will be my goal, maybe to give us some help up front. Maybe a top-six winger or something.”
