New Jersey Devils 2022 draft review

Headlined by Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey, the Devils left draft weekend with eight new prospects joining the organization.

Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell | @InfernalAccess

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey, and everything else, with our writers and subscribers.

---

The New Jersey Devils made eight selections at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

There was certainly a common theme among the choices as four of the team’s top five selections – and five of eight overall – were blueliners; with most being fluid skaters.

Let’s dive into the class with pick-by-pick thoughts.

2nd overall - Simon Nemec (RD)

I already shared my initial thoughts and, with the help of a couple NHL front office members, went more in-depth on Friday. A little more Nemec talk would never hurt anyone, though, so let’s triple down.

The more I think about it, the more it feels like the Devils passed on Shane Wright for…the defense version of Shane Wright. Hear me out.

Wright isn’t a burner. He isn’t physically dominant. He isn’t a serious one-time threat. He isn’t a puck-on-a-string player who will dance his way around opposing defenders.

What Wright is: a very smart player, a very well-rounded player (there aren’t many elite traits or glaring weaknesses), and a player who comes with years of high-end productivity attached.

You can say the exact same things about Nemec who, like Wright, was playing in a league you’d never expect him to at just 15 years of age.

Nemec is not going to beat Miles Wood or Jack Hughes in a race but he’s a solid skater, which allows him to get involved all over the ice.

He always keeps opposing forwards on their toes with his willingness to activate and attack space every time it’s available.

He is just as aggressive when his team doesn’t have the puck as when they do. He’ll challenge you at the opposing blueline to keep plays alive and extend possessions. He’ll challenge you as you enter the neutral zone. He’ll challenge you all over the ice, really; he just wants the puck back.

Nemec reminds me a lot of Simon Edvinsson in that regard, although he takes even more risks (definitely to a fault, at times).

If the organization can coach out some of the needless gambles – especially when he’s the last man back – and help him improve his shot (it needs a lot of work), he could be a top pairing guy for a long time.

46th overall - Seamus Casey (RD)

Skating, skating, skating. That’s the first, second, and third thing you notice with Casey. It’s not that he has insane straight line speed; it is the edge work, shiftiness, and pivoting ability that really stand out and make him unique.

HockeyArsenal wrote an in-depth post about Casey’s point play – what’s good, and what needs improvement – in late June. I highly recommend checking that out (and joining their mailing list).

In the meantime, here are a couple examples of how Casey can use his skating to flip the script and turn sticky situations into dangerous ones for his team.