His first season in North America was a harsh wake-up call for Detroit Red Wings prospect Jakub Rychlovsky.
“Honestly, it was a tough encounter with reality when you get to know how the business works in America,” Rychlovsky said on the website of Czech club White Tigers Liberec. “It took me a while to get over it.”
His struggles with the adjustment were evident in both Rychlovsky’s health and productivity. Injuries would limit him to 38 AHL games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. His numbers were a pedestrian three goals and five assists.
“Maybe I was looking for faults in myself too much at first, rather than getting over it and not thinking about it that much,” Rychlovsky said. “After the New Year, I got injured, had to have surgery (for a lower-body injury), and that ended my season.
“So my impressions are kind of embarrassing. I know I didn’t play my best hockey.”
Jakub Rychlovsky🚨 on a rebound off of a MBN one time blast. 3-1. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/ZFKp7e9QlG
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 14, 2024
The 24-year-old Czech forward admits he wasn’t at all prepared for the grind of the AHL. Three games in three nights, sometimes all on the road. Overnight bus trips. Broken sleep patterns.
It all took a toll on his well-being.
“Traveling was extremely demanding,” Rychlovsky said. “Some matches ended at eleven in the evening, for example, and we then got on a bus and drove five hours to another city.
“There was also a time difference there, and we played the match from seven in the evening. My body was often confused and didn’t know if it was morning or evening.”
Rychlovsky Ready To Make Red Wings Push
Rychlovsky makes it clear that he blames no one but himself for his struggles during the 2024-25 season. He’s confident that he will grow from the experience.
“It was especially eye-opening for me,” Rychlovsky said. “It’s a great experience, I don’t regret it, and I would never trade it for anything.”
He’s been training with Liberec to prepare for his sophomore North American campaign.
In his second year of a two-year contract with Detroit, the player who led the Czech Extraliga with 26 goals in 2023-24 is prepared to do whatever it takes to get his shot with the Red Wings.
Jakub Rychlovsky picks the upper right corner🎯@griffinshockey | #GRvsMIL pic.twitter.com/qFjYTJPJYg
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) November 17, 2024
“I set myself up so that I have nothing to lose,” Rychlovsky said. “I want to have a good camp where I go day by day. Whether I get one or eight (preseason) games in preparation, I want to fight for the best position on the team.
“Detroit has 13 forwards on one-way contracts, so all the young players will have a very difficult time. The organization is celebrating its 100th anniversary since its founding. There will be a lot of pressure on the management to make the playoffs.
“Whoever performs best will play.”