Patrik Nemeth seizing opportunity to be a top-four defender with Avalanche

DALLAS — Patrik Nemeth had a feeling his time with the Dallas Stars was coming to an end.

After a three seasons of in-and-out status on the Stars defense, it became somewhat clear to the 25-year-old defender where he stood in the organization through training camp and preseason, where Nemeth only had an opportunity to play two preseason games with the Stars.

When the Stars had to finalize their final roster Nemeth was put on waivers and was claimed by the Colorado Avalanche.

“I think for me I saw this coming a little bit. With the situation it was there,” Nemeth said. “So it is what it is. I think it’s been good so far.”

The Avalanche immediately gave Nemeth an opportunity within their top-four defenders and paired him with Tyson Barrie.

The results?

Heading into Saturday’s game against the Stars Nemeth had three assist and was plus-7 on an Avalanche team that won four of it’s first five games to open the season.

“He’s been great. I think he gives us some stability back there, he stablizes our back end. I think he plays with a guy in Tyson Barrie that I think there styles compliment each other,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “(Nemeth) is a defending-first mentality, making the simple plays and his first pass has been real strong. But he’s got a heavy presence when he’s defending around the front of the net and the corners. And Barrie is more of a get-up-and-go type guy.”

Nemeth’s physicality in particular has stood out to Bednar, who said the defender has been a key part of a defense that has taken major strides from a historically bad 2016-17 season.

“He’s quick to contact in the D-zone, he’s making good reads,” Bednar said. “He’s heavy meaning he’s thinking body contact and that help stops the cycle and allows you to get some numbers in there and win a battle.”

Having a coaching staff trust him right away has been big for Nemeth. He’s been allowed to play his game comfortably, and hasn’t had to worry about making one mistake and being exiled back to the press box as a healthy scratch.

“It’s not easy, but it’s easier,” Nemeth said. “I think now you know you’re gonna play if you’re playing well. If you stick with a partner and have a little bit more chemistry (then) if you’re bouncing around. It’s good and it’s up to me to play well.”