With the mention of Slovak Olympian Simon Nemec, the right-handed defenseman is due for an extension this summer. AFP Analytics projects his value around $4.5 million annually, with upside to $8 million if he develops into a true puck-moving defenseman at the top level.
Whoever is running the New Jersey Devils this summer, whether it remains Tom Fitzgerald or not, the most practical move is a two-year bridge deal in the $4 to $4.5 million range. That structure preserves flexibility while maintaining Nemec as a strong asset across the league.
This is not just about a contract. This is about direction.
Turning Nemec Into Identity and Opportunity
A contract in that range becomes attractive to teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs. That opens the door to a move centered around Matthew Knies. This is where the Devils can execute two objectives in one move.
First, they establish identity. Knies brings net front scoring, physical play, and consistency in contested areas. His style translates directly to playoff hockey, where time and space disappear. He creates offense through contact, positioning, and persistence.
Second, they correct a missed archetype.
The Devils have built a fast and skilled roster, but they have lacked a true power forward who can dominate physically and finish plays in tight areas. Knies represents that missing piece. In many ways, he is the type of player the Devils needed to draft and develop but did not. Acquiring him now bypasses that timeline entirely.
Against teams like the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers, this type of player changes outcomes. Those matchups are defined by pressure, puck battles, and net front presence. Knies gives the Devils a way to answer that style.
The Risk of Waiting
The Devils have done well developing Nemec, but usage matters. If he is not given consistent top-pair responsibility, this situation begins to mirror Adam Larsson.
A player becomes undervalued within the organization while gaining value outside of it. That is how teams lose high-end assets without maximizing return. The Devils cannot afford to let that happen again. The decision must be clear:
Is Nemec a top-two defenseman on a contender, or is he a high-value asset that can address a more immediate need? Waiting too long risks answering that question through decline in value rather than proactive decision-making.
Reshaping the Blue Line and Planning Beyond Hamilton
Moving Nemec also opens a broader structural opportunity. It allows the Devils to begin transitioning away from Dougie Hamilton as he ages and carries a significant cap hit. Hamilton remains productive, but roster building requires anticipating decline before it arrives. This is about timing the next phase of the defense, not reacting to it too late.
If Nemec is moved, the Devils can reshape their blue line with a clearer balance between mobility and physical presence.
Seamus Casey can step into a puck moving role similar to Brian Rafalski. That maintains transition ability and offensive support from the back end.
From there, the left side must provide strength and defensive reliability. Options include Daniil Orlov as a proven physical and experienced defender, or Anton Silayev as a long-term solution with size and mobility.
Replacing Brenden Dillon with a more mobile but still punishing presence becomes essential to maintaining balance across the defense.
Silayev in particular represents a long term identity fit. A large defender who can control the net front, engage physically, and grow into a shutdown role once adjusted to North American play.
However, this path adds to what the Devils already do well. It does not address what they lack.
This ultimately comes down to identity
With Timo Meier moving deeper into his prime, the Devils need another forward who can play with strength and finish in tight areas. That presence creates space for players like Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, while supporting the growth of Arseny Gritsyuk and Cody Glass.
Matthew Knies fits that need immediately. He changes how opposing defenses have to play against New Jersey. He adds pressure, physicality, and a layer of scoring that does not rely on space.
Simon Nemec is a strong player and a competitor. This is not a question of talent. It is a question of fit, timing, and direction.
If the Devils do not view him as a long-term top-pair defenseman, the organization should act now while his value is strong.
Because in one move, they can reshape their forward identity, address a missing player profile, and begin preparing their defense for the next phase beyond Dougie Hamilton. That is how a good team becomes harder to play against.