Seattle Kraken Draft Profile: Simon Nemec
There isn’t much to criticize about Nemec’s on-ice performance. He is praised for being a well-rounded two-way player and one of the best defensemen of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. However, like all young players, a few areas could use a little refinement.
Lack of Bulk
Although a small detail, one area that could need some attention is his size. At only 18, there’s still plenty of time for him to pack on some muscle and learn to utilize his size to benefit him on the ice. However, Nemec has never been an overly physical player. At 6’1” and 192-pounds, he isn’t much of a physical threat. This isn’t to say he doesn’t use his body to be a menace; Nemec just isn’t as physical as other defensemen.
While the league is constantly evolving, there are several GMs who still love a physical player. Francis is one of them. A player’s value is often gauged by their skill set in today’s game rather than by their size. Nevertheless, it would still benefit Nemec to bulk up and put more muscle on his frame, so he doesn’t flounder in physical battles.
Off the mark
The overall consensus is that Nemec also needs to improve his shot, more pertinent, his accuracy. He has shown vast improvement behind the power of his shots, especially his wrister and one-timer. However, his inaccuracy is currently holding him back from being a comes to being a goal-scoring threat.
There has also been some slight criticism of him being a bit of a risk taker. Most of the time, his risk-taking pays dividends. However, although cliche, sometimes taking risks is… well, risky. Taking risks can be fun and exciting, especially if they work out in a player’s favor. But, having a keen awareness when taking said risks is also very important.
🇸🇰 U18NT won the second match of WJC-U18 D1A against 🇳🇴 Norway 5-2.
Norwegians were leading until 35th minute, then 3 quick goals shifted the game towards Slovaks. 🚨
Šimon Nemec and Adam Sýkora both played tonight and now will return to Nitra for Extraliga play-off. ⏪ pic.twitter.com/gIS3Vsnbfh
— Slovak Prospects (@SlovakJrHockey) April 12, 2022