Fanbase is split on Luke Hughes vs. Simon Nemec for the best young defenseman on the Devils

The New Jersey Devils season is essentially over. With just 10 games left in the season, we're left to talk about offseason priorities. The biggest offseason priority is arguably figuring out what's next for defenseman Simon Nemec. The former second-overall pick is done with his entry-level contract, and he needs an extension.

Many believe Nemec is going to look at Luke Hughes’s contract and expect something similar. Some think he might even ask for more since he was a higher draft pick and the salary cap continues to go up, but we have to live in reality here. Luke Hughes was able to get the price he got because he held all of the leverage. He’s the youngest Hughes brother, and the Devils needed him to sign past Jack Hughes’s deal, which has four more years left on it after this year. 

Thinking Nemec deserves $9 million is kind of crazy. He’s been a player who has been inconsistent with his offense and scary with his defense. We don’t need to get into the numbers. Fans and analysts know what Nemec is. He’s a high-risk, high-reward player who steps up in big moments. 

This season, Nemec has 10 goals and 15 assists in 58 games. Nemec has been great at times, but failing to get to at least 40 points as a young offensive defenseman shows that he’s just not in that upper echelon. Nemec was drafted like he was supposed to be a top-line defenseman, but he’s really projecting as a high-quality second-line player. That’s not worth $9 million. That’s barely worth $6 million. 

Luke Hughes vs. Simon Nemec: Who is the better player today?

That’s not the point we’re trying to get to. Nemec’s worth will be talked about a lot from now until he signs a new contract, whether with the Devils or somewhere else. 

What we’re talking about today is whether Nemec or Hughes is the better player. We assume Hughes is the better player. He was the better prospect, as Nemec’s draft was considered one of the worst in recent memory (although its not exactly trending that way). Hughes was once considered the best prospect not in the NHL, and Nemec was never considered with that type of regard. 

In the NHL, they have both had stretches of great play and stretches of terrible play. Let’s take the last two season and see who has had a better time. 

Nemec has played 48 fewer games at the time of this writing, and his numbers show it. The Devils score a little bit more with Nemec on the ice at 5v5 (2.09 goals per 60 minutes for Hughes, 2.33 for Nemec), but the defense has been clearly in Hughes’s favor (2.39 goals against per 60 for Hughes, 3.12 for Nemec). 

Both players are in the negative for goal differential, but Hughes is at least close to even when it comes to high-danger chances (11.12 per 60 and 11.93 per 60 against). Nemec is on the ice for way more high-danger chances against than his line is creating (8.96 vs. 12.08). 

The Devils need more offense from both players, but the numbers are pretty clear. Hughes has been better and is projected to be better. That’s not taking anything away from Nemec. They both should be here for the long term, and they can build themselves into a superstar pairing.