Pair of New Jersey Devils prospects doing exactly what GM Tom Fitzgerald has asked

In terms of adding and re-signing exciting players, the New Jersey Devils have had a quieter offseason than most would have liked.

That's okay, though, because two of their most important prospects have been doing exactly what Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has asked of them - and the rest of the team - this summer in preparation for a big season.

Top defense prospect Simon Nemec went semi-viral on Twitter/X earlier this week for his offseason workout videos, something that he's already been doing for most of the summer.

The 21-year-old was bedeviled by a shoulder injury for most of last season, having never fully recovered from the injury he suffered while on international duty with Slovakia in the summer.

Fitzgerald previously claimed to be "looking for guys who want to drag people onto the ice, and I'm looking for guys who want to drag people into the weight room."

That sounds a lot like Nemec, who absorbed a lot of flak from Devils fans for his poor play that followed out-of-context talks about considering a trade, playing time, and things of that ilk.

Joining Nemec in the weight room, at least in spirit, is incoming Devils forward prospect Arseniy Gritsyuk.

The 24-year-old Russian sensation recently posted an Instagram story of himself in the gym in Ottawa, one of the places he's had to stop on his 20+ hour journey from Russia to the United States to join the Devils in Newark ahead of training camp early next month.

It's not the first time Gritsyuk, like Nemec, has been spotted in the weight room this summer. He's posted multiple Instagram stories in the past of him working out with Columbus Blue Jackets winger Yegor Chinakhov, a popular buy-low trade target amongst the online community.

So, sure, the Devils haven't re-signed Luke Hughes yet, and their most impactful addition at the forward position will probably end up being Connor Brown.

But the kids are growing up, and that could have a bigger impact than most have bargained for to this point.

For Nemec, especially, the future depends on that. The former No. 2 overall pick needs to prove to Fitzgerald and the Devils that he has a place with the team long-term ahead of Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, and Johnathan Kovacevic, with the latter recently signing a five-year, $20 million extension that comes with trade protection.

That's not a vote of confidence, and Nemec should be aware of that. His actions, though, reflect a young player committed to sticking with the Devils, especially with Kovacevic expected to be out injured for a decent portion of the 2025-26 season.

What Nemec and Gritsyuk turn their strong offseasons into is ultimately up to them, but preparation and being good pros are always the first steps.