Sometimes I hear that games in the NHL
they were easier than in the AHL
Hockey defenseman Simon Nemec experienced the most difficult period in his career.
Although he started the season in the lineup of the New Jersey Devils. However, he played only nine games, after which he was sitting in the stands when he was finally sent to the farm in Utica. Twenty-year-old number two in the NHL draft before after three years she admitted that she had to get herself together. Recently, however, the young back has performed very well and believes in a dream from the right Devils team.
Q: You went through a phase, how are you feeling
A: “It's better from the hockey side. I didn't have an ideal period, apparently the worst in my career. It's over, I'm playing my hockey. I do things that I know. It's not in the league I'd like to be in, but it's better than Sie.”
“I’ve gone through the toughest period of my career. It’s over now, and I’m playing my hockey again.”
Q: You recently had a three-pointer match, it was already a performance that wants- show you off?
A: “Yes, I needed one duel. I confirmed that I didn't forget it and I can play hockey. Zial, the situation was not ideal before."
Q: Almost on the same day, your younger brother Adam also had his first three-point duel in the Nitra jersey in the extra league, what do you say?
A: “Yes, I watched him, I was very pleased. I saw the vital meeting of Nitra 4:0 against Nový Zámky, where the youngsters showed that their goals are not accidental. Especially the last fell after a wonderful action from all three "kosikars". From its own defense zone, no they threw the puck, they went full, but with a combination they passed it nicely and scored."
Q: What do you say about the progress of the younger sibling, also communicate with him- are you eating?
A: “I'm trying to give him advice, his weakest point was his skating, but he's already improved that as well. I'm glad he's chasing adult men. He knows how to play with the puck, he tries to create, he doesn't play timidly. That's when it is the best. I believe that it will be present."
Q: At a glance when starting really high.
A: “Yes, Adam is quite tall. He still needs to gain weight and get stronger. It's much better than last year."
Q: Let's get back to you. You are the season they started in the NHL, with matches in Prague and then others overseas, after you were sitting in the stands for a long time when you were finally sent to a farm in Utica. Do you know why they made such a decision?
A: “It was not an optimal situation from either side. I sat out too many games, they didn't want me to not play, so they sent me down. Of course, I imagined it differently, I wasn't thrilled. I think that I gradually showed progress in the matches, even though I didn't have the role I was used to. I had to adapt bit. I felt better, my self-confidence also increased. Then the coach sat me down and went to the farm. I had a very phased period, but that's it, it passed.”
Q: What do you do in severe colds helped the most?
A: “The girlfriend who is here with me. It's a wild game on the farm when you have three games in four days and then two weeks off. It helped me that she was with me then."
Q: I will also tell you more specifically if, what do you have to work on the most?
A: “The defense is constantly repeated. I think I improved here. Well, it was also about the fact that several matches were won without me and they wanted to therefore send me downstairs, where I will play a lot."
Q: What is your focus, what is your role at the farm in Utica?
A: “I play big minutes, I am I am extremely satisfied with that properly pulled out. The last match I also play the first overtime when Seamus Casey got injured."
Q: Both you and Casey are offensive linemen, how do you get along?
A: “Upine normally, as with every teammate. It is not in between nami rivalry, everyone wants to improve. We are not competing."
Q: The transition to the AHL was all the more difficult because the Comets were at the bottom tables?
A: “Yes, I came to the team that he didn't win anything. Everyone was frustrated, it didn't help me. I had to get out of it myself. However, we have already won a few matches, that's all better."
Q: Are you an introvert, do you keep things to yourself, did you yell at yourself after moving to the farm, or how did you deal with frustration?
A: I'm trying to take care of myself, maybe I calmed down before and I don't think about the situation by play yours the best hockey in the world where will I work."
Q: Your draft rival David Jincek asked Columbus for a trade and in the end they traded him to Minnesota. Didn't you have a similar ambition?
A: "It's hard to say, it's still too much fresh. If this situation will be keep walking, it will be resolved, but for now it's like this.”
“It’s hard to say, it’s still too early to request a trade. If this situation continues, it will have to be addressed, but for now, this is how it stands.”
Q: You talked about your situation also with the general manager New Jersey Tom Fitzgerald?
A: “Yes, and he told me that he didn't want me to sit in the stands in the NHL, but that he would rather go play in the AHL. Everyone knows that it is not an easy league. No one even expected that I would come there and have two points per match. He told me that I should improve and then he'll see you."
Q: The defense of the New Jersey Devils is loaded with money or expensive contracts and will probably be released in it a place only when someone smokes. What do you say to that?
A: “I have to cakaf, not with that- I do. I think one more I deserved the dream. A few times I proved that I belong to NHL, but I try not to think about it. I take it as it is. i believe when the dream comes, I'll catch it."
“I believe I've proven multiple times that I belong in the NHL. I just have to wait for another chance and grab it when it comes."
Q: Did Devils coach Sheldon Keefe and his assistants tell you anything?
A: “The assistants tried to hold me back, they did what they could so that I wouldn't be frustrated. I skated by myself or with some teammates- me during the morning skating. It was frustrating when you have to watch your teammates, how they play and you can't jump in."
Q: You are still set that you want to play in the NHL primarily offensive back, or are you also considering playing a more defensive style?
A: “I don't think I'm an ultra-offensive player. I am more offensive as more defensive, but also the past last year, I showed in the league how I fit in the mat role, for example, in the second pass game and in the weakening. I would like to play in the NHL. Mat and offensive-not even defensive positions. I'm with that fine. I wouldn't say that I was only showing off-road hockey, in the I also showed progress in defense with passes."
"I wouldn't say I'm an ultra-offensive defenseman. I'd love to have a balanced role in the NHL - playing both offensively and defensively. That's what suits me best.”
Q: Did you also learn from the fact that the professional league is a business when the club does not even have a number two draft pick?
A: “It's business, but on the other hand, I can't remember which draft that number two went to the farm for the third year. Devils did well, I have to wait, ma-kat, even if it's not the most optimal network."
Q: Were you looking for motivation on the farm?
A: “I don't want to say that I would be depressed. The motivation is the desire to get back to the NHL. First the matches were good, but then came the frustration. I don't even remember when I had so many chances to score and I didn't take any of them. Looks like it's hard when you go a level lower, but the farming league is really hard. Sometimes I feel that the NHL games were tough compared to the ones in the AHL. Nope when does the hockey level go too? who struggles much more, defends The matches are fought in places, as won by hockey skill."
"Sometimes it feels like NHL games were easier compared to AHL. The farm league is really tough, with grinding, battling."
Q: You had the opportunity to go to a party with compatriots working in the AHL?
A: “Yes, we played against a few times to Sam Kñazko and his Cleveland. He is not in an ideal situation, most closer we will play against Laval with Filip Mesár. I'm looking forward to him. After a successful step into the se zone, he was badly injured, but know is healthy. I think he has quality to run into it again and show what's in him."
Q: Dalibor Dvorsky will also play AHL All-Star game, what do you think of his performances?
A: “Yes, we also played against Dali. He was very helpful, they used him in every situation. It's great for him, maybe if he was of a different nationality, he's been in the NHL for a long time. I mean that when his dream comes in the prom team of St. Louis, he won't let her go and they will not send him back."
Q: You were also encouraged by Juraj Slafkovsky?
A: “When I was sent to the farm, his Montreal was just playing in New Jersey, so we went to dinner. He doesn't have it easy in the Canadiens either. I believe that it will turn around for both of us."
Q: Did you have time to watch the matches of the under-20 national team at the world championship?
A: “Yes, I watched them, we had Christmas holidays off and Slovakia's matches went well times. As for performance, heaven. It was ideal, but there were also bright moments. It was a joy to watch the attack with Dvorský and Juraj Pekarcik. I was looking forward to seeing it when they were on the boat to think of something. They played great, they were positive."
Q: Did you also notice Luka Radivojevic, is <in the USHL>?
A: “He has movement and hockey thinking bounced off from others. Sancu ur-Cite has, because similar defenders are placed in the pro league. His the future is great. $koda that it is hurt."
Q: We have one last question, you caught the phenomenon of Nela Lopusanova, who won the second time the MVP award for under-18 World Cup?
A: “I saw that the nines scored ten goals and Nela had eleven points. I don't think there has ever been anything similar in women's hockey personally ."
