Seattle Kraken Draft Profile: Simon Nemec
There is a lot to Like
Simon Nemec is a dominant two-way defenseman who is possibly on his way to being the highest drafted player from Slovakia. With the busy season, his success has made him stand out above the current draft-eligible prospects in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Although he will likely never put up huge scoring numbers, Nemec still has a high offensive upside. His skating is the foundation for an incredible two-way game. He’s a very mobile skater who uses agility and multi-directional quickness to cover a lot of ground.
His swiftness aids him in winning tough battles along the boards and in front of the net. He is often willing to take on tough assignments in his own zone. He uses his good edgework to create great lateral movement. This creates space for him to drive the play forward.
While he may struggle with his shooting, Nemec is a strong and effective passer. Great lateral movement paired with his excellent puck control allows him to avoid defenders, opening up both passing and shooting lanes and setting his teammates up for scoring chances. More times than not, he will choose to pass, waiting until his teammates have positioned themselves in front of the net. And his passes usually are right on the mark.
He loves to join the rush, especially through the neutral zone. Nemec’s strong stick-handling skills help him generate perfect offensive zone entries. A very confident decision maker, his self-assurance and high hockey IQ have helped him grow offensively.
Here's a look at Simon Nemec's goal from his final club match of the season yesterday.
Final totals this season:
Playoffs (19GP) – 5G, 17PTS
Regular Season (39 GP) – 1G, 26PTS
Hlinka (5GP) – 1G, 6PTS (MVP award)
WJC (2GP) – 1PT pic.twitter.com/0HT94r13A2— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) May 2, 2022
Great Defensive Game
Nemec excels in his own end of the ice. Once again, he uses his strong skating to be effective defensively. Nemec has excellent gap control, which forces the opposing team out of scoring areas. He utilizes his hockey IQ and impeccable vision to read plays well and effectively anticipate the competition’s next moves.
Not an overly physical player, he sometimes struggles against bigger opponents. Instead of big, Nemic is tenacious. He won’t let anyone get away from him scot-free. For a young player, he is mature, keeps his composure while battling hard along the boards and delivering crosschecks, stick checks, and is effective at stealing the puck with a good poke check.
Playing alongside men for three seasons has also allowed him to develop at an accelerated rate. It won’t be a surprise if he is NHL-ready post-draft or a year after.