Now put your hands on the SHL rulebook. Do you swear to tell the truth, the

whole truth and nothing but the truth?  Say I do!

Nico Answer : To make sure I’ll raise both hands!

Please tell us your real first name and where do you live right now?

Nico Answer: My name is Steve and I live in beautiful Montreal but I hate my hometown team so bad.

SL : Yeah. Another Steve! Can’t get enough!

When and how did you first find out about the SHL?

Nico Answer:   I have been in RSHL for over 10 years and one of my coworker and friend Alex Nellis, who’s a trade holic mentioned me that there’s an opening in the SHL with good knowledgeable gm. Also, being a draft fanatic, the fact that this league makes us draft the same year as the NHL was a huge incentive.

You made quite an entrance last year in trading Thomas Chabot for the 1st

overall (Owen Power). Would you do it again this year?

Nico Answer:  Lol, when I got the Devils, I figured that we had a good team full of vets but we’re below the top team in the East so I decide to start from scratch with a team of my image. Chabot is a top 2 workhorse with good age but we figured that in a rebuild a guy like Power in a few years would be more convenient for our team. The World Juniors has shown even more to our scouts than what we were anticipating when we gave up Chabot for first pick, and we are very pleased to have him as our cornerstone. Being him before Eklund, Beniers and Guenther sure wasn’t easy but today, every team would pick him first.

SL: How about McTavish?

Nico Answer : Great choice also but we didn’t consider him with our first. He was a late risers. But great pick at 9th overall.

Do you believe that Wallstedt would be better than Askarov?

Nico Answer: I’m a huge Askarov fan but we think with Wallstedt we have an elite talent in goals when he develops in a few years. The rumbling and work to get him with all our draft movement and capital we gave to move twice up to snag him at 13 was an helluva move for us. We were sure that SJ and NYR would take them ( Cossa) at 14-15, so moving forward we don’t have to find an elite goaltender,

How long do you think your rebuild will last? Looks like you will be building your foundation with this summer draft picks. Would you trade your next year 1st to accelerate the rebuild?

Nico Answer : I would trade my 1st pick this year for a guaranteed top 5 next year Yeah no doubt. Bedard and or Michkov with Power and Wallstedt, that’s any Franchise’s dream. Our rebuild will last max 4 years.

SL : So the long haul!

Nico Answer: Yeah, my close friends knows we like to draft so yeah maybe longer

Who is your favorite NHL team?

Nico Answer : Calgary Flames

Who is your favorite player of all time?

Nico Answer: The hands of Datsyuk, the work ethic of Crosby, the charisma of Iginla, the sense of Lidstrom, the skating of Scott Niedernayer and the style of Forsberg.

SL : I like that ! Foppa is my fav!

Who is the person you would like to meet (dead or alive)? Feel free to explain!

Nico Answer: My girlfriend is 4 months pregnant so I’m hyped up. Unfortunately, the past two years, she had two miscarriages so undoubtedly but my kids that gives me the strength to dream everyday.

SL : Good luck brother! Hopefully everything will turn out great this time! July kids (me) are beautiful, sweet, loveable…

Nico Answer: Thanks pal!

Question : If you could catch a GM asleep and steal one of his players, who would that be? Not that you really need anything in particular right now!

Nico Answer: Haha good question. First, It would be on Halloween day so I could make the other GM dress like Peter Chiarelli. It would be easier to take advantage if it’s him.

Im a huge fan of Hedman but since I’m rebuilding, I would love to do CM Punk’s Go to Sleep finishing move to the futur owner of one top 2 picks next year’s draft (to pick up Bedard or Michkov)

You get first overall to start a league, which player would you choose? And why?

Nico Answer: I would start my franchise with Victor Hedman just because he’s the complete package.

What’s the best way to approach you about a trade request?

Nico Answer: Lol since I have problems still understanding the UFA period signing, whoever helps me will start very good our negociations.

What annoys you when a GM approaches you ?

Nico Answer: When someone ask me Power for a late 1st, Ouch !

SL : Ouch certain! Not good! From what I gather with these interviews so far is that we have a pretty good amount of experienced and knowledgeable GMs in the league. They like to chat but not to be taken for beginners.

I know the SHL rulebook is a near perfect work but if they was one rule that you would change or add, what would it be?

Nico Answer:  Hard to answer cause I don’t understand all of them yet.

If there was no stupid virus around, and you have an unlimited amount of cash, where would be the first destination you travel into? Could be space!

Nico Answer : Id like to go to the World Cup Finals in November even though I dislike that country.

SL : You might dislike the government but I heard a lot of amazing sightseeing to be done!

What gets you these days! Sports event, TV Series, your cat, anything?

Nico Answer: I’m a huge NFL fans so very sad that next game is only in August.

Any questions, queries, comments or dark secrets you want to add before we

leave?

Nico Answer: Thanks for having in this league and ill promise ill be more active when I understand the rule book.

Thanks a lot for answering all my questions! Now! Who would you like to hear about next and what should be the first question?

Answer: Tampa Bay, like Goldberg says in WWE: You’re next

What made you chose Kent Johnson over Mason McTavish?