Skip to content

967sports

"The Home of True Sports Lovers"

Primary Menu
  • Home
  • Football
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • NRL
  • sport cars
  • MLB
Live
  • Home
  • 2024
  • May
  • 25
  • Red Wings Star Recalls Anxious Substance Abuse Talk
  • NHL

Red Wings Star Recalls Anxious Substance Abuse Talk

Tee Blaze May 25, 2024

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
download (6)

When Jakub Vrana faced a pivotal moment in both his personal and professional life with the Detroit Red Wings, he vividly remembers the fear and apprehension he felt after deciding to confide in Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman about his issues.

The turning point came in October 2022, when the surprising news broke that the star forward was taking a leave from the Red Wings to enter the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program due to substance abuse issues. It was Vrana himself who sought out Yzerman to share his problem.

JAKUB. VRANA. pic.twitter.com/dVRrCLCHxa

— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) February 25, 2024

 

“I went to see Steve Yzerman,” Vrana recounted in an interview with Zimakpodcast.cz. “I walked up the stairs to his office and I was completely unsure how to tell him.”

Vrana spent six weeks in the program and returned to Detroit, only to be placed on waivers by the Red Wings and subsequently assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. He had a brief recall to Detroit later in the 2021-22 season before being traded to the St. Louis Blues.

Reflecting on that tumultuous season, Vrana focuses on the fact that he was ultimately able to get his personal life back on track.

“Even though I now know it was the right thing to do, at the time admitting my problem was overwhelming,” Vrana said. “I was afraid to take that step and feared it might be too late.”

Vrana Talks About Substance Abuse Issues And His End With Red Wings

 

His tenure with the Red Wings came to an end, a reminder that hockey is a business. Vrana acknowledged that he felt there were aspects of his departure that weren’t explicitly communicated to him.

In the subsequent season, the Blues also sent Vrana to the AHL, where he finished the season with the Springfield Thunderbirds. He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Regardless of the status of his hockey career, Vrana is simply relieved to have his life back on track.

“I had to start addressing it,” Vrana stated. “I am stronger now.”

His advice to others facing similar addictions is to not be afraid to take the step of reaching out for help.

“When you think you have everything under control, you don’t,” he explained. “But seemingly insurmountable problems can indeed be solved.”

About The Author

Tee Blaze

See author's posts

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Post navigation

Previous: “Vikings Unveil Successor to Harrison Smith: Lewis Cine Put on Alert”
Next: Giants Co-Owner John Mara Expresses Concerns About Potential 18-Game NFL Season Expansion

Related Stories

blackk
  • NHL

🧠Blackhawks Make Bold $1 Million Move to Reinforce Blue Line and Accelerate Rebuild

Kelly October 6, 2025
baso
  • NHL

📰NHL 2025–26 Outlook: Can the Chicago Blackhawks Rise in a Power-Shifting Season?

Kelly October 6, 2025
kkkkk
  • NHL

🏒Blackhawks Bolster Blue Line Depth: Veteran Matt Grzelcyk Signs One-Year Contract After Impressing on PTO

Kelly October 6, 2025

You may have missed

semien
  • MLB

💥Texas Rangers Face Second Base Shock 😳 as Marcus Semien’s Stunning Slump Forces Urgent MLB Roster Re-Think

Kelly October 6, 2025
1B
  • MLB

🔥Jake Burger Blows the Lid Off Rangers’ First Base Meltdown: ‘We Can’t Keep Doing This

Kelly October 6, 2025
df
  • MLB

📰Texas Rangers Begin Coaching Staff Overhaul After Schumaker’s Hiring — Key Decisions Loom on Maddux and Hitting Coaches

Kelly October 6, 2025
blackk
  • NHL

🧠Blackhawks Make Bold $1 Million Move to Reinforce Blue Line and Accelerate Rebuild

Kelly October 6, 2025

Categories

  • A-League (1)
  • AFL (546)
  • AFLW (2)
  • Alexander zverev (4)
  • Aston Martin (2)
  • Astrit Selmani (1)
  • Baseball (754)
  • Basketball (379)
  • BOXING (3)
  • Canadian Premier League (3)
  • CFL (57)
  • Chicago Blackhawks (1)
  • Cincinnati Reds (12)
  • CRICKET (37)
  • CYCLING (2)
  • darts championship (9)
    • Mercedes-Benz (7)
  • Dinamo București (1)
  • Dog Show (1)
  • Edmonton Oilers (1)
  • Entertainment (1)
  • Football (100)
    • Bundesliga (2)
    • Champion League (1)
    • Championship (1)
    • La Liga (3)
    • Premier League (50)
  • Formula 1 (67)
  • formula1 (154)
  • golf (9)
  • Hockey (262)
  • huskies (1)
  • Kansas State Wildcats (1)
  • manchester united (2)
  • Michigan (1)
  • michigan wolverines (8)
  • MLB (1,124)
  • MLS (126)
  • MMA (2)
  • MotoGP (2)
  • National football league (2)
  • National League (1)
  • NBA (372)
  • NCAA (1,544)
  • NCAA BASKETBALL (11)
  • NCCA (35)
  • New England Patriots (8)
  • New York Yankees (9)
  • NFL (3,017)
  • NHL (255)
  • Novak Djokovic (1)
  • NRL (362)
  • olympic (1)
  • OLYMPICS (1)
  • Oregon Ducks (1)
  • pool (1)
  • Rugby (96)
  • Samu Aghehowa (2)
  • Serie a (6)
  • Snooker (1)
  • Soccer (80)
  • sport cars (2)
  • St. Louis Cardinals (11)
  • Tadej Pogačar (1)
  • Tennis (118)
  • Texas rangers (7)
  • Transfer News (16)
  • UFC (2)
  • UFL (5)
  • USWNT (1)
  • VolleyBall (1)
  • WNBA (5)
  • Wrestling (4)

Tags

AFL Atlanta Braves Atlanta Falcons Auburn Tigers Boston Celtics Boston Red Sox Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears Cincinnati reds Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Edmonton Oilers Essendon Bombers Formula 1 Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Max Verstappen Miami Dolphins Michigan Wolverine michigan wolverines Minnesota Vikings MLB MLS NBA NCAA New England Patriots New York Giants New York Jets New York Knicks New York Yankees NFL NHL NRL Ohio State Buckeyes Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Sydney Roosters Tennis Texas Rangers
  • Home
  • Football
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • NRL
  • sport cars
  • MLB
  • Home
  • Football
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • NRL
  • sport cars
  • MLB
Copyright © All rights reserved. | MoreNews by AF themes.
%d