TAKEAWAYS

• In the past two years, Jakub Malek, the talented goaltender, shares his experiences playing in the prestigious Finnish professional hockey league and reflects on his personal growth during this period.
• In March, Malek participated in the Devils development camp and subsequently secured a two-year entry level agreement.

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It’s been a busy few months for Devils goaltending prospect Jakub Malek. In March, Malek signed a two-year entry level deal with the Devils. Two months later he attended his second development camp with New Jersey. 

Malek has been a part of Ilves, the top professional hockey league team in Finland called Liiga, for the past two seasons. In the previous season, he participated in 27 games, achieving a 16-4-5 record. His goals against average stood at 2.32, while his save percentage reached .915. Notably, Malek secured two shutouts during his time on the ice.

During the development camp, Malek was questioned about his progress in Liiga and the specific areas he is concentrating on for further enhancement. Find out more information below!

On why he chose to play in Liiga, the top professional hockey league in Finland, and what he’s learned from the last two years:

I believe I chose to go there because the opportunity presented itself, and now it has been two years since I arrived. Improving myself is of utmost importance to me in this environment. The players there are incredibly quick, making it challenging to compete. Every day, I feel the need to push myself to become better, as everyone around me strives to be the best. It is an ideal place for personal growth and development.

On what he’s focused on for next season with developing his game:

“I believe there is room for improvement in terms of my speed in the league. The newcomers are exceptionally fast, making it challenging to compete against them. However, the greater the challenge, the more we can enhance our skills. While I have made progress in all areas, I acknowledge that there is still scope for further improvement.”

On the Devils adding veteran goaltenders and what he focuses on when it comes to where he can fit in with the Devils depth chart:

In this setting, I believe this is simply how things operate. Hockey is a dynamic sport, and it’s only natural for goalies to enter and exit the scene. The number of goalies, be it 10 or 5, doesn’t concern me. My focus lies in giving my all and staying dedicated to my own performance. That’s what holds utmost significance for me at this moment.

On the Devils development camp and level of competition at this year’s camp:

This place is absolutely perfect. There is constant competition in every aspect. The level of competition is incredibly high, but everyone enjoys it and finds it ideal to be here.