Šimon Nemec was unlucky at the beginning of the season, he got injured and was out for two weeks due to a suspected concussion. Upon his return, he must again fight for a place in the Utica Comets lineup.
The last game against Rochester he played only as the seventh back. Despite this, he exploded in scoring, scoring two goals and two assists. He believes that this will bring him more space and finally the coveted call from the first team of the New Jersey Devils.
I believe that I am saving the first hat trick for the NHL
You were the star of the night in the AHL at the weekend when you scored two goals and assisted on two against Rochester, was that one of the best games of your career?
“Yes it was, from all sides it was one of the best duels I’ve played. I had a chance to score a goal or a point in every shift.”
With a similar performance, don’t you regret not having a hat-trick from the defender position?
“With a minute to go, we had a power play. I believed that the coach would put me there, he probably didn’t know that I already had two goals, because the first one was reported to someone else. I have never been so close to a hat-trick in my career.”
Have you ever scored three goals?
“I scored two goals as a teenager, maybe a hat trick as a student. I was never a goalscorer, but things are changing a bit overseas, even now I had five or six shots in a game. That didn’t happen in the past, it wasn’t usual for me.”
You’re probably saving your hat trick for the NHL, what do you say?
“(smile) I believe so, and also that I won’t be on the farm for long. On the other hand, I wouldn’t be upset if I shot him another weekend. You never know in the AHL, it’s a crazy competition, sometimes you can have a lot of points, other times none.”
At the same time, you played only the seventh back…
“Yes, I was on the ice for about sixteen minutes. If I hadn’t played those sixteen minutes, I would have had even less. It was probably the fewest I’ve ever played in the AHL.”
Do you also know why you played less?
“I have no idea, maybe they wanted to send me with an apology and they probably succeeded (laughs). I could have had more points in previous duels, sometimes it works on the farm that the worse the action, the sooner the goal is scored. Like one of my last two, when the goalkeeper kicked it over him and it fell behind him in the goal.
You have played your sixth game since the injury, how are you feeling?
“Medically, everything is fine. Fortunately, I didn’t have a concussion, but I had to be absent for two weeks. The protocols here are strict and it’s not like in Europe, you have to pass everything. You start with a bike, gym, in a non-contact jersey with the team. It was lengthy. But I had to have gradual activity to engage the brain.’
How did you look back on Cole Koepke’s save that knocked you out?
“It looked terrible on video, but thankfully it wasn’t like that in person.”
Originally you were supposed to play the first power play, which is what you went to the farm with, now you were only the seventh back, what do you expect in the next duels?
“I believe that I will get more space. I played the first power play only once, we got a goal from it after my mistake, but I expected the coach to support me more. It didn’t happen, maybe I convinced them with this match.”
You probably don’t want to think about the NHL so much?
“I have it in my subconscious. More players from our draft are already playing at the top. I don’t want to say it’s frustration, but I see peers there and I think I could be there too if the chance came. I have to wait. I can create pressure with good performances. I believe it will come as soon as possible.’
In previous answers you suggested that the AHL is a crazy competition, what did you mean by that?
“First of all, every conference is different. Where most guys like Maťo Chromiak and Pali Regenda play, a lot of goals are scored. Offensive hockey is being played. We are very defensive. Maybe it would be beneficial if at least a few matches were played between each other, when you play seventeen matches with one team and fourteen duels with the other, you don’t enjoy it anymore.”
In a month, the U20 national team camp starts, do you think they can let you into the tournament?
“If I’m still on the farm, I don’t see any reason why they won’t let me go. We will push for me to go. If they hadn’t taken me to the first team of the New Jersey Devils by then, I don’t think they would have taken me straight through the championship. I still believe that I will play in the NHL and if not, I will go to the Junior World Championships. It’s the last chance for our generation to do something we’ve had in our heads for four years. But anything can still happen, a month is a long time.”
Could it be a problem that the junior tournament is in Sweden?
“I think it would only be better for me, since the camp is in Slovakia. Everything will probably be communicated in the same way as last year to a week or two ahead. The leadership of Slovak hockey should deal with it now, but I will not influence that.”
What do you say about the situation of Filip Mešár, whom Montreal sent back to the junior team and has almost two points per game there?
“I expected him to play like this in the OHL if they sent him there. He is already good enough for the junior level. On the one hand, they tell him all summer that he will play in the AHL and send him to the junior team. I’m glad he’s doing well and not thinking about where he could have been. It shows how it doesn’t belong there.’
Are you in contact with Juraj Slafkovský, he is not able to score points, how do you perceive it?
“I could see he was the third star of the game at the weekend even though he didn’t score. Hockey is unpredictable. It can turn around quickly. I can see for myself how important it is to shoot a lot here.”
You didn’t play against Martin Pospíšil in the AHL, but what do you think about his perfect transition to the NHL?
“Martin shows what he can do with combativeness. He’s been unlucky, a lot of injuries, but he’s a very good boy and he’s finally made it.”
You haven’t talked to any of the players who had to wait longer for a chance to farm like you did?
“I didn’t discuss it much with anyone. I’m trying to keep thinking positively to get out of there as soon as possible.”
Brother Adam conquered the junior league in Slovakia, what do you think of his performance?
“I think he’s doing great, he did well against men in the under-18 project and now he’s shown himself in the under-18 national team tournament as well. I’m happy for him. During the summer he trained a lot with us, he improved in many things. It could go in a good direction.’
Luka Radivojevic, who made his debut in the twenties at the age of sixteen, could also follow in your footsteps, how do you perceive his performances?
“I saw him at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he has potential. I believe that he will stay healthy and continue like this. We need similar players, because it is easier to be a worker than a hockey player with a difference.”
2023-11-16 06:45:00
#INTERVIEW #Šimon #Nemec #dont #play #Jersey #reason #wont #junior #championship #Sport.sk
