That they don’t just leave the NHL? Did Lukáš Sedlák give up too soon? That he let himself be lured by mammon from Grandpa’s cash? Social networks and, in general, probably every internet discussion about the native of České Budějovice is full of scathing, mocking and sometimes even hateful comments. At the same time, the player himself explained everything, even in an apologetic tone, although he didn’t have to, he didn’t owe anyone anything and, most importantly, he remained fair to himself.
He had a great contract in his pocket from extra-league Pardubice.
He was counted as the first center, the biggest ace, in short, the mover. He could also look forward to meeting his friends from Chelyabinsk, Russia, Tomáš Hyka and Roman Will in the cabin. With the first-named, it also works great for him on the ice.
But in the back of his mind he still had the dream of the NHL. He thought he was ripe for the famous league. That he is no longer yelled at, he has more insight on the ice. He believed in the pace of elite overseas competition.
And when the lasso came from Colorado, he did not hesitate from the fresh champions, who are also coached by his favorite trainer Jared Bednar. He wanted royal conditions at Dynamo, including closeness to family, and nodded at almost the league minimum. With the Lavinas, he slapped for “only” 800,000 dollars a year.
Because he had the ambition to compete with the best. To win. Fight for the Stanley Cup.
In addition, he was looking forward to his Czech partners led by Pavel Francouz.
But Bednar quickly showed Sedlák that he only had a minor role for him. And that he can forget the double-digit numbers of minutes played per night. In three games, he averaged 7 minutes and 42 seconds of net ice time. Misery, misery and yet more misery.
Already at that moment, the skillful and at the same time predatory forward could wrap it up. But he appreciated being claimed by John Tortorella to Philadelphia. They knew each other, he played under him for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Flyers had a big team and Sedlák gave the chance to play a lot.
But it didn’t quite work out that way.
“I’d like to play more,” he expressed an understandable wish a few weeks ago. However, he was given a proper space only exceptionally. In addition, frequent defeats began to suffocate him, the joy of hockey suddenly disappeared. This is not how he imagined returning to the NHL.
He wanted to win with Colorado, not suffer losses with Philadelphia. Moreover, when he calculated what role he would have left when all the marauders returned, he realized that he would never be more than a patch. Despite his solid performance, he managed 8 points in 27 games despite a light workload.
“The NHL slowed down for me. Russia helped me,” he described how the famous competition suited him more than ever before. He proved to himself that he was finally into her and that he wouldn’t lose himself in her. The soul was at peace.
Losses, an uncertain position, homesickness and the simple knowledge that at the age of twenty-nine he wants to be a key player encouraged Sedlák to leave. To a logical and pragmatic step, from which even hockey rep could easily benefit.
The NHL is often put on a pedestal.
It is presented to all indiscriminately as a goal to which they should absolutely aspire. But everyone has the right to choose. For example, Robert Reichel, the golden captain, was also not dragged into the big puddle at the turn of the millennium at any cost. And you would find more of those cases.
What is nice about Sedlák is that, despite the fact that he could limit himself to a few phrases, he clearly justified his decision. And that he doesn’t run away without a fight. For example, right after the training camp, the first sign of trouble or a transfer to a weaker, troubled team.
In short, he gave it a fair chance and tried to squeeze everything out of himself to get the best possible position. However, according to him, he was getting too little back. And so he headed to Pardubice, where he will become a star. With the feeling that he owes himself nothing. Authorized.
You may like the Frenchman’s approach a million times better, who was willing to sacrifice millions and a privileged position for the NHL (and over which even his agent shook his head), but you can hardly spit on Sedlák because he behaved differently.
As I did not applaud him for staying in the KHL, now I understand him. And that even without the tempting vision that a handyman could find a much-needed boost in it. After all, there were more than enough arguments for his maneuver. How would you behave in his shoes?
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