Berglund: No regrets about exit
At peace in retirement in his native Sweden
Patrik Berglund told Sweden’s Hockeypuls.se he feels at peace and has no regrets after abruptly ending his hockey career by walking away from the Buffalo Sabres a little over two months into the season.
“I just knew I had to go home to find myself again,” Berglund told the publication in speaking for the first time since the Sabres terminated the final 3½ years on his contract in December. The Sabres acted after suspending Berglund Dec. 15 when he failed to report for a game at Washington.
Berglund was interviewed at his home in Vasteras, Sweden. The story was published in Swedish Friday and translated by Google.
Berglund said he lost some of his passion for hockey last summer after being traded to Buffalo by St. Louis. Berglund was the Blues’ first-round draft pick in 2006 and spent 10 seasons in St. Louis.
He said he had difficulty handling the move, and eventually became tired of trying to hide his frustrations.
Berglund says his emotions had nothing to do with playing in Buffalo, and he apologized to the Sabres for betraying them.
Berglund provided no indication regarding his future plans. He added he is not concerned about walking away from the remainder of his five-year, $19.25 million contract.
“My contract, and all the money I gave up means nothing,” Berglund said. “I can give up that amount at any time to feel good inside.”
Predators
Forward Ryan Johansen received a two-game suspension without pay for high-sticking Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele.
The NHL announced Johansen’s suspension Friday. Johansen committed the penalty Thursday in the first period of the Predators’ 5-1 loss against the Jets.
Johansen will lose $86,021.50 due to the suspension, and the money will go to the NHL players’ emergency assistance fund.
Johansen, 26, has eight goals and 34 assists in 49 games this season.
Islanders
Barry Trotz was back in Capitol One Arena Friday night, but this time he was behind the New York Islanders bench.
The previous time Trotz was there, he was guiding the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup in 2018. But the Capitals did not bring him back as coach, and he joined the Islanders in the offseason.
“I’m going to have a lot of good emotions,” Trotz said. “The four years I spent there were tremendous. We won a lot of games. I have a lot of friends in that dressing room and I have a lot of friends away from the dressing room.”