Nemec has not played the last two games for the Devils due to an undisclosed injury and has been placed on Injured Reserve. It's unclear when the talented Slovak defenseman might return to the lineup, but the Devils' Head Coach Sheldon Keefe stated he is expected to miss "some time" and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
With Luke Hughes battling an undisclosed injury, Nemec will draw into the lineup for him playoff debut in Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes. After making an impact in 60 games last season, Nemec was limited to only 27 this season, scoring four points (2G / 2A).
Dennis Cholowski will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks, allowing Nemec to re-enter the lineup. The 21-year-old Nemec did not play the previous two games for the Devils. The Slovak defenseman is averaging 14:34 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 20 games this season.
Dennis Cholowski will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers, allowing Nemec to re-enter the lineup. The young Slovak defenseman, Nemec, is averaging 15:33 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in 16 games this season.
Nemec started the season with the Devils but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 22 points (5G / 17A) in 32 games with the Utica Comets. The 20-year-old Slovak defenseman was the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Nemec has been used sparingly this season, playing only nine games and averaging 16:07 time-on-ice, down nearly four minutes from the 19:52 he averaged last season. The 20-year-old Slovak had 19 points (3G / 16A) in 60 games last season.
Nemec was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. It's unclear if this is injury related or if Nemec is simply a healthy scratch.
Nemec left and Olympic Qualifying game a few weeks ago with an upper-body injury after getting tangled up with a member of Team Kazakhstan. Luckily for the Devils, who will already be without Luke Hughes to start the season, Nemec was on the ice on Thursday and was a full participant in Day 1 of training camp.
Nemec was a healthy scratch for the Devils' previous game as Travis Green wanted him to have a "reset" but will draw back into New Jersey's lineup on Thursday vs. St. Louis. The 20-year-old rookie has made an impressive impact in his first season in New Jersey, with two goals, 16 points, 54 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 40 games played this season.
Brendan Smith will likely draw into the lineup on Tuesday if Nemec is a healthy scratch. Nemec played 16:18 time-on-ice last night and recorded two shots on goal. The Slovak defender has been held off the scoresheet in four straight games.
Nemec was the 2nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and will make his NHL debut Friday vs. San Jose after Dougie Hamilton (pectoral strain) was placed on the Injured Reserve Friday. The 19-year-old defensemen had been thriving in his first season with Utica (AHL) prior to his call up, with two goals, six assists, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 13 games played.
In correspondence to Dougie Hamilton being placed on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the Devils have recalled Nemec from the Utica Comets of the AHL. The second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has not played an NHL game yet but has eight points (2G / 6A) in 13 games with the Comets this season.
The Devils selected Nemec with the No.2 overall pick in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old Slovakian defenseman had 26 points (1G / 25A) in 39 games with Nitra MHC (Slovak Extraliga) last season. He also represented Slovakia at the 2022 World Juniors (one assist in two games) and the 2022 Olympics (one assist in seven games).
