Look at any credible Quinn Hughes–Devils mock trade proposal and you’re bound to find one constant:

Simon Nemec being part of the package sent to the Canucks.

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It makes sense too. Nemec, 21, is off to the best start of his young career with 15 points and six goals in 29 games played. He’s finally proving that he was worth the No. 2 pick investment in 2022 and yet, because of New Jersey’s (understandable) pursuit of Quinn, they might not see him in the lineup when he reaches peak potential.

Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek said Nemec is “probably at the top of everybody’s list” in regards to a Quinn trade. The Athletic named the Slovak defenseman as a trade candidate on Sunday.

Do these constant trade rumors bother Nemec?

“I mean it’s part of being a hockey player,” Nemec told NJ Advance Media from his locker room stall Monday. “Something could always happen. I’m trying not to think about it. I don’t know if it’s true or something. I’m just trying to play hockey and I will see how everything turns out.”

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It sure doesn’t seem to be impacting him on the ice. Due to the Devils’ long list of injuries this season, Nemec has gone from playing just 14:59 minutes per night last season to 20:02 TOI/G this season. He also has the eighth most power play minutes on the team this season with 30:24.

There’s also his clutch goals, like when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime to bury the Blackhawks on Nov. 12 and notch his first career hat trick. Suffice to say Nemec feels more comfortable in the league this season.

“I always say: If you feel the trust from the coach, it’s always better,” Nemec said. “Especially with me, I want to play a lot and want to be on the ice in every situation. I feel the trust. Now I can do my thing.”

Time will tell if Nemec is still a Devil or not, but the rumor mill is certainly heating up. On Saturday night, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that New Jersey has had “at least one” conversation with the Canucks about acquiring Quinn, but that things didn’t appear imminent. Friedman changed his tune on Monday, stating it’s “difficult to handicap” how long a potential Quinn trade might take.

Coach Sheldon Keefe was asked Monday how his team — which is winless in their last five games — is staying focused amid the rampant rumors.

“For me, to keep them focused is just to keep them focused,” Keefe said. “We don’t talk about any of that sort of stuff. It’s out of our control as coaches and players. Stuff that goes on in the periphery is just that — noise at this point. Now more than ever we need to stay focused. Anytime that sort of stuff gets out and players overthink it, it can be a challenging situation. We’ve got to keep the focus on our game and the schedule. It’s been so busy that there hasn’t been a lot of time to think about anything else.”