A former second overall NHL draft pick has reportedly demanded immediate trade from his team now: Simon Nemec
Simon Nemec and Sheldon Keefe now sit in the middle of a Devils offseason story that could reshape the blue line.
A report from Slovak journalist Simon Cop says Nemec has asked for a trade, putting one of New Jersey's biggest young assets right back in the spotlight.
That's not a minor name on the board.
Nemec was the 2nd overall pick in 2022, and teams do not move players like that unless the situation has really turned.
The timing makes this hit harder.
Nemec just finished the season with 68 games played, 11 goals and 26 points, which is enough to remind everyone why his ceiling still matters.
He is also coming off the final year of his entry-level deal, with a cap hit of 918333 and RFA status ahead.
That gives the Devils control, but it doesn't cool down the noise.
New Jersey already has pressure around the roster after closing the year at 42-37-3 with 87 points and a -24 goal differential.
That's not the backdrop for a smooth summer.
For Keefe, this becomes more than a contract file.
When a young defenseman with pedigree starts looking for a way out, it raises questions about role, trust and where he fits on the bench going forward.
A blue-line issue the Devils can't brush off
Nemec's season was not perfect.
His -11 rating shows there were rough nights, and like a lot of young defensemen, he still looked caught between pushing the puck and protecting his own zone.
But the tools are still there.
He moves well, can help the power play, and the Devils know they are not dealing with a fringe player or a depth option.
That is why this report lands with weight.
A player like Nemec is supposed to be part of the long view, not part of trade chatter before his second contract is even done.
The front office can still hold firm because of his RFA status, but that only delays the bigger call.
If the relationship is sliding, New Jersey has to decide whether to repair it or cash in while the value still carries real punch.
Either way, this is no longer just about patience with a young defenseman. It's about whether the Devils are still building with Simon Nemec or already bracing to move one of their best long-term bets.
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YESTERDAY
MAY 20, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Dylan Coghlan | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Pavel Dorofeyev | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Nic Dowd | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Brett Howden | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Gabriel Landeskog | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ross Colton | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Tomas Hertl | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ben Hutton | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nathan MacKinnon | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mitch Marner | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Brandon Saad | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Colton Sissons | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Devon Toews | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Ahcan | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | - | - | |
| Brent Burns | - | - | - | |
| Jack Drury | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||