Another word on Simon Nemec

What do NHL front office members think of New Jersey's pick? Let's find out!

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The New Jersey Devils opened a lot of eyes on Thursday night when they drafted Simon Nemec with the 2nd overall pick.

It wasn’t so much that Nemec didn’t warrant a very high selection; but that the consensus No. 1 for better part of three years (Shane Wright) was still on the board.

As I reported all along, the Devils were enamoured with Juraj Slafkovsky. I didn’t think they’d pass on Wright but I knew their preference was Slafkovsky. Clearly, the gap was big enough for another player to squeeze in between.

Whether you agree with the decision to select Nemec or not (I’d have taken Wright), it wasn’t as surprising to those inside of the NHL as it was to many outside of it.

NHL FO 1: It’s a swing that screams more positional than BPA (editor’s note: perhaps meaning they passed on centers because they’re already stocked) but we had plenty of time for him.

NHL FO 2: He’s a hell of a player, he had a great year, and clearly New Jersey loved him. You could make the case for him or Jiricek as the best D in this draft but they’re different types of players. It reminds me of that draft class with Hughes, Boqvist, Bouchard and Dobson…you’re just picking the one you like most and praying he ends up as the best D from the draft. I don’t think taking him at 2 was a reach, and I don’t think him dropping to 5 or 6 would be considered falling.