Conflicting reports out of New Jersey have Simon Nemec drama swirling and the Maple Leafs have to call

New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec has been linked in trade rumors as the defenseman was said in a new report from his native Slovakia that he could be on the move.

According to Slovak journalist Simon Cop in 'Dennik N', Nemec has requested a trade out of the Devils, with the 22-year-old not having been offered a contract extension by new GM Sunny Mehta.

However, Devils reporter James Nichols pushed back, calling the story partially untrue, without going into detail as to what is inaccurate. Still, the reports cast uncertainty on where things stand between the team and Nemec.

Further, Slovak hockey reporter Tomas Prokop of Dennik Sport, similarly named but not involved with Dennik N, reported as well that Nemec did not request a trade out of New Jersey, and that there isn't an update on if Mehta will offer Nemec a new deal.

Nemec, selected second overall by New Jersey in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has 11 goals, 15 assists, & 26 points this season in 68 games, having played in NHL three seasons.

Rumors over a potential trade involving Simon Nemec have existed since last season and have continued into this year, with Nemec having been an outsider in a veteran Devils lineup.

Nemec finally found a footing last season after struggling to break into the roster, but has been linked to an exit to secure consistent top-four minutes.

The Devils present a challenge for Nemec to move up the depth chart with Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes ahead of him, Hamilton specifically looking unlikely to move now after being a potential trade deadline piece earlier this season.

Brett Pesce, who missed half of the season due to injury, may knock Nemec back out of the lineup, and prospect Seamus Casey is eyeing a spot as he waits in the American Hockey League.

As well, Nemec has struggled with consistency, although this season was a stronger showing for the youngster. A team believing in Nemec could see a Brandt Clarke type development happen with real minutes.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could be a team that makes sense for Nemec, filling both a need for youth on defense, as well as a potential defenseman on the right hand side.

The only question for the Leafs is how their RHD depth looks next season. Like New Jersey, Toronto themselves has a logjam on the right, but luckily a more potentially more solvable one than the Devils.

Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo could both be back, and with Jake McCabe likely remaining, Toronto may not have much space unless one or both of Tanev and Carlo are gone.

This would open up Toronto to add Nemec, who could be a cheap sign-and-trade option, and add one of the projected top RHD free agents in Darren Raddysh and Rasmus Andersson.

With one of Raddysh and Andersson, and McCabe, Nemec could find himself again a third pairing defenseman in Toronto, which may make him seek an opportunity that puts him in the top-four.

If New Jersey doesn't commit to Nemec and offers an exit, Toronto should be first in line. A 22-year-old former second overall pick with two-way upside is exactly the young, controllable defenseman John Chayka needs, and the Leafs will not get many chances to buy as low on Nemec's level of upside.

Although it may not be right away, Toronto could offer Simon Nemec a pathway to not only get a role deserving of his second overall status, but make him key in the future of the Leafs defense.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Brandon Carlo for the Columbus power forward Auston Matthews has been waiting for