After suffering an upper-body injury in an awkward collision with a Hungary forward, New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec is returning to Newark for further tests.
"Simon Nemec will not play against Kazakhstan," reported Slovakian journalist Tomas Prokop. "The doctors of the New Jersey Devils will decide on his treatment. He should fly to America next week."
Nemec, 20, had been called up for international duty for Slovakia in order to help his nation qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics, alongside Devils teammate Tomas Tatar.
It is also worth noting that Nemec returned to the bench after initially getting injured before being ruled out for the rest of the game. Slovakia doctors did not find any broken bones or a dislocation, as Nemec's left shoulder was the main point of contact in the collision against the boards.
Šimon Nemec has upper body injury. He won’t be playing in sunday game (Slovakia against Kazachstan, winner will qualify for 2026 olympics). Šimon is flying next week to New Jersey for more tests. #NJDevils @amandacstein @InStilettos_NHL https://t.co/iEcGgkeYoq
— Tomáš Prokop (@Lewysko) September 1, 2024
This does not, however, rule out the possibility that Nemec suffered a sprain, which could sideline him for most, if not all of Devils training camp and the NHL preseason depending on the severity.
On the surface, though, it appears that Nemec avoided a severe injury, which is undoubtedly good news for the Devils, his teammates, and new head coach Sheldon Keefe, who is tasked with developing Nemec and many of the other young Devils stars.
Perhaps returning to New Jersey early would benefit Nemec anyway, as the 20-year-old rearguard is gearing up for what will be his first full season in the NHL. Having the freshest possible legs will only benefit him throughout a long, 82-game season.
Recall that Nemec was the Devils' first-choice injury replacement for veteran Dougie Hamilton, who suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle last November.
Given that Hamilton is yet to test himself in competitive action since his surgery and rehab, the Devils will still need to rely on Nemec. His recovery and availability going forward will be key.