Seattle Kraken Draft Profile: Simon Nemec
How Does Simon Nemec Benefit the Seattle Kraken
Simon Nemec has been linked to the Seattle Kraken numerous times this offseason. While it is mainly speculation and will remain so until Francis announces his selection, it makes sense if Seattle wants to select a defenseman in the draft.
The Kraken are very heavy on right-handed defensemen at the moment. Adam Larsson and William Borgen were the only two rostered players who naturally play right-handed. These days several players in the league play on their off side and have done it well. However, having an R-L defensive pairing on the ice is much easier.
Players lose approximately a third of the ice playing on their off-hand. It is better, and often more strategic, to have players on their strong side. When playing under pressure, a player on their off-hand is more often than not forced to play on the backhand. Playing on the forehand gives them a significant advantage in changing the point of attack.
So, while the Seattle Kraken’s blueline showed they could be versatile and adapt to playing their off-hand. Adding a right-handed defenseman would be very beneficial and provide more balance. And, as is human nature, we want what we don’t have, automatically making it more valuable.
Simon Nemec is also not under contract for next season. He made it clear that he wants to make the transition to playing in North America in 2022-23. If the Seattle Kraken needed him, Nemec could immediately impact their roster. Playing in the Slovakia pro league against men will be a great advantage when transitioning to the AHL or NHL.
Related Story: Kraken draft profile – Matthew Lavoie
Check back with us for more NHL Draft Profiles.