NHL: New Jersey Manager evaluated the season of Simon German
Newark. Was the season 2024/2025 for Simon German step back? Certainly not. At least that is the general manager and coach of the New Jersey Devils club.
During the evaluation of the year, in which the « devils » dropped out in the first round of the NHL playoffs with Carolina, there was also questions about the Slovak defender.
He was not ready, the coach thinks
A native of Liptovský Mikuláš came to the pre -season camp after the injury he suffered in qualifying for the Olympic Games of 2026.
Despite being able to recover, the year started unimpressed performance. In the first team he played only nine meetings and scored only once. Later he was long as a healthy substitute and was moved to AHL at the beginning of November.
« The German was not ready for our standards and expectations, so he went down to the farm, » said the team’s leadership Coach Sheldon Keefe. « But he found your way back and then he was getting better. »
He played in Utica until February, he was the most productive team defender. He got a second chance in the NHL after New Jersey was injured by key defenders.
« I was very happy about it, » said Tom Fitzgerald’s general manager about the German return to the first team.
Video: New Jersey Devils Rating Assessment
“It is a long -term process and let us not forget that he came here as an eighteen -year -old boy. Despite the fact that he played professional hockey in Slovakia, it was a big leap for him.
Here the principle of merit. No one just gives you your place, you have to deserve it, ”added the manager.
Fitzgerald: Everything depends on it
While the German player played 60 matches in the NHL last year and his average ice time was 19:52, he only started 27 matches in the current year. On average he spent less than 15 minutes on the ice.
He also offended the point, from the balance of 3+16 he dropped to four points for two goals and two passes. He spent a number of matches on the grandstand as a healthy substitute.
« As he played most of the last season, it was encouraging for us. We did not expect it to get such a burden, » Fitzgerald admitted.
« But last year’s summer has opened his eyes. A new coach and new expectations. A twenty -year -old boy must understand all of this and that simply takes time, » the manager thinks.
The German got more space in New Jersey only during the playoffs. In four games against Caroline, he played an average of 20 minutes and 40 seconds. During them he scored two points (1+1).
In the third match, the winning goal in the extension secured the team a single point in the series. « I don’t even know what to say. It’s like a dream. To score a goal in the playoffs, moreover in the overtime. I feel incredibly, » he said immediately after the winning intervention for MSG.
Video: Winning goal of Simon German to Carolina network
This moment was mentioned at a press conference in the evaluation of the season and coach Keefe.
« Most of the time, self -confident hockey players are doing most, but you have to earn confidence. Working it out. But it’s not just a goal. Suddenly he understood better what this league is about and what he requires. He put a lot. »
« At the end of the season and especially in the playoffs, he performed good performances and we saw until it could happen, » added the general manager.
Fitzgerald pointed out that the German did not travel to the World Championship in hockey, but will use a longer time for quality preparation before the new season.
« It all depends on him. He has a key preparation ahead of him and now it is up to him, » the manager added, adding that the Germans will watch the club closely during the summer.
