New Jersey Devils: Comparing Simon Nemec To David Jiricek
By Nick Villano
Highest Floor: Jiricek vs. Nemec
This one might seem more cut and dry. Usually when one player has a higher ceiling, the other player in the argument has a higher floor. Thus, the argument at hand. This one isn’t quite the same as previous arguments, but let’s delve into what both players have going in their favor.
Nemec is someone with incredible hockey sense. We’ve seen in the past players overcoming crazy situations and talent limitations just because they are intelligent. It’s a mix between decision-making ability and general reflexes. Hockey is a fast game, and being able to think on your skates is important in the NHL. This is something that lifts Nemec’s floor immensely.
Jiricek’s size and current ability are what lifts his floor. He is almost an NHL player already. He will probably make the NHL before Nemec. That seems like he wins, right? Making the NHL is literally the floor of an NHL Draft prospect.
Here’s the difference with this argument. We’re not arguing who’s floor is closest to the NHL, we are talking about a higher floor. That’s easily Nemec. He will make the NHL, and when he does get there, his worst season will likely be as a second-line defenseman. His ceiling might be there, too. We kind of know what Nemec is going to be, and that’s a very safe defenseman who is going to make some plays, but he won’t do it with a ton of risk.