Darren Raddysh's new deal will help New Jersey Devils in their Simon Nemec negotiations

The New Jersey Devils are in an awkward spot with Simon Nemec. Their former second-overall pick is a restricted free agent this offseason, which sounds like an easy negotiation. While Nemec hasn’t been great in the NHL, he’s had some really big moments and he became a fan favorite during last season. After being the one to score the overtime goal against the Hurricanes in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, avoiding the sweep in the first round, Nemec was full of more heroics in 2025-26.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to lift the Devils, and their season was still sunk by the time they returned from the Olympic break. 

Now, with the season over and Nemec’s entry-level contract over, they are trying to negotiate a new price for his deal. The man who drafted Nemec, Tom Fitzgerald, is currently collecting his check from Devils’ ownership while assessing his next move in hockey. Sunny Mehta has taken over that job as Devils’ GM. 

Whispers say that Nemec wants the same deal as Luke Hughes, who signed for $9 million per season. Of course, there’s nuances to Hughes’s situation that don’t exist for Nemec. Both were former top-five picks, but Nemec’s brother isn’t the team’s star, and his other brother isn’t one of the best players in the NHL that the Devils want to target. 

And on top of that, the Devils already have too many defensemen. Dougie Hamilton was in trade rumors all season, but Fitzgerald never pulled the trigger to a team Hamilton would agree to. He has Hughes, Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Johnny Kovacevic signed to long-term deals. Prospects Seamus Casey and Anton Silayev are expected to play in Utica. There are too many defensemen on this roster and in this system. 

Mehta is going to address this, but a new contract going on the books might make the Nemec negotiations easier. 

Darren Raddysh's contract helps the Devils in their Simon Nemec negotiations

Now, there are huge differences in Darren Raddysh and Simon Nemec. Nemec is 22 and Raddysh is 30. However, Raddysh is coming off a 70-point season, and his defense is above league average. Nemec’s defense was AWFUL, but it might be because he’s young. 

It’s also the expectation versus reality of the deal. It’s not like Raddysh went to a no-tax state and took less. Many thought he could demand a $10 million per season contract, but he got a little over $8 million in Toronto, which will make him million less over the deal compared to what he would make in Tampa. 

So, if Nemec is pursuing a $9 million deal, but the market isn’t going to those heights, then Nemec can see the writing on the wall. It might make sense for all parties to do a bridge deal. Nemec gets something like three years for $6 million per season. Then, if he grows into what he truly thinks he will, he can cash out at 25 years old.

Raddysh getting an eight-year deal shows that teams aren’t afraid to pay players well into their 30s. Nemec waiting could help him, and the Devils could fit him under their salary cap much easier. A trade is still most likely, but this would make his contract easier to swallow.

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