He waited three and a half months for the first match of the 2025/26 season, and even nine months for the competition.
Slovakian forward Martin Pospíšil returned to the action after a long break caused by an unspecified injury.
On Saturday night, he showed up in a Calgary farm team jersey against Bakersfield. The Wranglers lost 1-5.
He entered the match as the center of the second formation. He did not score, he had three shooting attempts and up to two negative points. In the second period, he served a two-minute penalty for a foul.
“It was great to come back. I haven’t played for a long time so it was nice to be back in the game. On the other hand we lost so I’m not happy.
I believe it will be better on Sunday. We need to add and it starts with me. I know it was the first match, but it’s time to get into it,” said the 26-year-old forward after the match.
VIDEO: Martin Pospíšil’s reaction
Pospíšil suffered an injury during NHL training. In early October, he missed a preseason game against Vancouver after taking a hit to the face after a fight.
Since then, he has been on the list of injured players and has not yet played in the current NHL season.
Before the sharp start in the professional league, Calgary sent him to play on the farm in the AHL, where, according to available information, he should play two games. He should then move to the NHL.
“Physically, I feel good. However, training is always different from a match, there are always new situations in the game. The lungs were fine. I was more worried about the head.
For me, the return is quite fast – it’s repetitions, touches with the puck. When I feel good in my head, I can do it physically.
It’s a bit more challenging after three and a half months without a match, but it can be done. Maybe I have to take shorter shifts and not be on the ice for too long,” he added.
VIDEO: Martin Pospíšil
The big loss in the opening game of the season was regrettable, but he knew where he had to add.
“There were also good things, especially in forechecking. The guys skated well and we had several chances. But it has to come right from the first substitution. We need to play fully for the whole 60 minutes,” he emphasized.
Pospíšil’s path to the NHL also led through the AHL. He presented himself in the jersey of the farm team after two years. He played his last game for the Wranglers in the 2023/24 season.
“It’s a bit strange, but at the same time nice to see familiar faces,” he added.
Pospíšil played the first competitive match of the season 20 days before the start of the Winter Olympics in Milan, where he was nominated among the 25 players of the Slovak national team.
“If everything goes well, he should play seven matches before the Olympics,” said coach Vladimír Országh, who spoke with Pospíšil a few days ago, at Wednesday’s press conference.
The Wranglers, even with Pospíšil in the lineup, will play again against Bakersfield on Sunday at 21:00 CET.
