James Nichols
Just because Simon Nemec didn’t ask the New Jersey Devils to be traded, that doesn’t mean he won’t be.
In fact, the Devils might have to move a defenseman. It’s plausible that one of Nemec or Dougie Hamilton are moved this summer given the abundance on the blueline, Hamilton’s in-season drama, and potential return for the 22-year-old Nemec.
Plus, New Jersey has a clear need at forward.
Thus, there will be no shortage of suitors for the Devils if it is, in fact, Nemec that they try to move. Who doesn’t want a 22-year-old defenseman who is a former second-overall pick who broke out for 11 goals in his second full season in the NHL in 2025-26?
San Jose Sharks
There are a few facts about the San Jose Sharks going into the offeseason.
First and foremost, they’re stacked with forward talent.
And second, they ONE sure NHL defenseman signed for next season. In otherwords, the Sharks need NHL-ready defensemen.
Sam Dickinson looks promising, so perhaps there’s two.
However, Mario Ferraro is all but confirmed to be walking to unrestricted free agency.
With a plethora of forward talent in San Jose, imagine how sharks GM Mike Greir would feel about turning an NCAA free agent like Collin Graf into a former second-overall pick like Nemec in a potential swap.
The Devils would be getting their bubble top-six forward and the Sharks another defenseman to grow with the exciting young core in San Jose.
The Devils could use Graf’s scoring talent and 6-foot-1, 194-lb frame, while the Sharks probably wouldn’t mind adding another defenseman with top-four potential.
And with the Sharks owning the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft with a chance at Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, perhaps Graf is the odd-man out.
Seems like a win-win for both clubs.
St. Louis Blues
If the Devils are looking to turn Nemec into someone more high profile, looking to the St. Louis Blues makes all the sense in the world.
Are the Devils likely to pry Robert Thomas out of St. Louis and move Jack Hughes to the wing? Probably not.
However, imagine Jordan Kyrou on Jack and Jesper Bratt‘s left. That sounds like a fast, skilled, and lethal trio.
The Blues are undergoing changes. Doug Armstrong officially hands the keys to the GM chair to Alexander Steen—all of which know St. Louis is heading more toward a rebuild than anything else.
Acquiring a 22-year-old defenseman is a good kickstart, and Nemec would undoubtedly welcome the chance to play with countryman Dalibor Dvorský.
Montreal Canadiens
This one is a bit harder to predict, but one thing is for sure. Juraj Slafkovsky would undoubtedly vouch for Nemec on his behalf.
The Montreal Canadiens are on quite the run. They’re amid the Eastern Conference Final—albeit trailing 2-1 in the series to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The right side of their blueline doesn’t look too bad, either, with Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, and Alexander Carrier.
However, Hutson is a lefty. He’s made due just fine to this point, but would perhaps be that much more effective on his natural side.
Montreal doesn’t have a ton of cap space on July 1st with $9,178,091 ready to spend. They also have several restricted free agents to sign such as Arber Xekhaj, Zachary Bolduc, and Kirby Dach.
Yet, there’s a potential RFA swap here that could make both sides happy.
Nashville Predators
Another team that will be interesting to watch this summer are the Nashville Predators.
Who are they? What’s their direction?
Well, even they’re not entirely sure right now as they’re transitioning from one GM to the next.
Yet, the fact of the matter is they lack significant presence on the right side of their blueline after Roman Josi, and there’s nothing of significance coming in the pipeline.
Nemec is certainly a name that would at least pique the Predators interest, and Nashville has options to offer depending on the direction Mehta wants to go in terms of the type of player he’s adding in return.
Does it make sense to bring in a 35-year-old Ryan O’Reilly? Or perhaps they try to pry the young Luke Evengelista.
Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken have a ton of cap space opening up on July 1st and have a long-term need on the right side of their blueline.
Going into next season, the Kraken’s right defensemen consist of Adam Larsson and Brandon Montour. However, there’s a giant question mark after that, and the aforementioned are aging.
Nemec presents said solution, and could even help solve their Shane Wright issue. The Devils could use another depth forward such as Wright, and he might even benefit from being in a more offensively inclined system like New Jersey’s.
A Nemec for Wright swap makes plenty of sense. Both are underwhelming NHL producers relative to their draft value who just might need a change in scenary.
There’s a fit here.
Toronto Maple Leafs
We’re going back to the Toronto Maple Leafs well with this one.
The Maple Leafs were dangling Matthew Knies at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline and although it’s a new regime, you still have to wonder if he can be reeled in.
Speaking of the new regime, they have a lot to tackle. The future for Toronto is up in the air, however, it’s never a bad idea to make the roster younger.
The Maple Leafs’ right side next season will be occupied by Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Brandon Carlo. Although, Ekman-Larsson can play the left side, and Morgan Reilly’s future hangs in the balance.
Similar to Nashville, the Maple Leafs don’t have a young, right-shot blueliner coming through the pipeline.
An old, slower blueline doesn’t seem like John Chayka’s preference. Thus, if Knies is expendable in Toronto, the Devils should dangle Nemec to try and reel in the power forward.
Vancouver Canucks
Is there any doubt the Vancouver Canucks want to tear it down to the studs?
They seem destined to after ranking 32nd in the league in 2025-26.
Vancouver kickstarted their rebuild by trading their franchise defenseman in exchange for several future pieces in Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, and Liam Ohgren and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Yet, if the Canucks want to expedite their rebuild, they undoubtedly need to do so by building out their blueline.
A long-term Buium-Nemec pairing should be attractive to new Canucks GM Ryan Johnson. Perhaps a forward in return who is still finidng his way similar to Nemec like Liam Ohgren makes sense in return.
Minnesota Wild
Is there a nuclear option in which the Minnesota Wild can’t sign Quinn Hughes?
Never put it past GM Bill Guerin to be aggressive. If for whatever reason there is doubt, a package centered around Simon Nemec could finally bring Quinn to New Jersey to fulfill the prophecy.
Honorable Mentions
There are plenty more teams that could make sense for Nemec. After all, who doesn’t desire a young, right-handed defenseman?
Perhaps the Calgary Flames deserve to be more of a destination than not. A swap for Nemec and Connor Zary would certainly interest New Jersey. And with their franchise trajectory, they’re certainly rebuilding as well.
The Devils and New York Islanders have trade history, although not with Mehta in charge. And the Boston Bruins should be interested in Nemec as a long-term right-defense option.
And why wouldn’t a young, up-and-coming team like the Chicago Blackhawks be interested in the 22-year-old Nemec?
It’s a bit harder to see the exact trade fits here, but it’s by no means out of the question.
