They are excited about the German in New Jersey: Right-handed defenders do not grow on trees – Sportnet.sk

BRATISLAVA. Slovak hockey defenseman Šimon Nemec has spent two days in the development camp of the New Jersey Devils club from the overseas NHL, which selected him last week in the second place in the rookie draft. The highest drafted defenseman this year and in Slovak history believes that he will establish himself in North America next season. According to him, working in the lower American Hockey League, where the “Devils” have a reserve team, the Utica Comets, would help him the most. “I want to try to play in North America, maybe in the AHL or even in the NHL for the Devils, you never know . I played two full seasons among men in Slovakia. I think it would be better for me in the AHL,” the German revealed to the official website of the profiliga. The German was not satisfied with himself. The reigning vice-champion of the Slovak extra league with HK Nitra surpassed the record of Branislav Mezei and Boris Valábik, who before him were the highest drafted Slovak defenders. Mezeia was selected 10th overall by the New York Islanders in 1999, Valábik received the same honor in 2004 by the Atlanta Thrashers. “I’m really excited to be here. I think the Devils are a really good organization and people for me they are very friendly here. I think I didn’t do very well on the ice on Tuesday, because I was only on it for the second time this month. But you will see that I will be better in the following days,” the 18-year-old native of Liptovský Mikuláš evaluated his performance at Devils development camp. Some scouts compare the German to Swiss defenseman Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators. In New Jersey, they are happy that they decided to use their first pick in the draft on the young Slovak. Exciting time for young players “Right-handed defensemen do not grow on trees, and everyone knows that. He was one of the most watched players in this year’s draft and our organization is excited about him. .Now we are trying to fit him and the other drafted youngsters into our system and help them in their individual development so that they can reach the top in the coming years and become the NHL players they want to be. It is an exciting time and we are happy, that Šimon is here with us this week,” said Meghan Dugganová, director of player development at the “Devils”, about Nemec. In the 2021/2022 season, Nemec set a junior extraleague record with 26 points in 37 games of the regular season, only forwards Marián Hossa and Gáborík they collected more than the juniors. He also became the all-time most productive junior in the playoffs with 17 points (5+12) in 19 games. At the Olympic Games in Beijing, he helped Slovakia to bronze medals with one assist in seven matches, at the World Cup in Finland he scored a goal and five assists in eight duels. He was also the most valuable player of the other Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where, as captain, he led the Slovakian under-18 national team to win silver with 6 points (1+5) in 6 matches.