Predators captain Roman Josi was diagnosed earlier this offseason with a heart-related condition known as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, according to “Blick,”’ a newspaper in Josi’s native Switzerland.
But Josi, who missed the last 25 games of last season with a concussion, still expects to be ready for the 2025-26 season, per the newspaper.
The Predators said the information regarding Josi is accurate but did not have further comment.
The condition, commonly known as POTS, causes the heart to beat faster than normal when one transitions from sitting or lying down to standing up, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
POTS affects about one to three million people in the U.S. and can result in symptoms such as dizziness or light-headedness. It can also occur during prolonged standing in one position or on long walks.
There’s no cure for the condition, but it can be managed, mainly through exercise, physical activity, diet and nutrition.
One of the stressors that can lead to POTS is physical trauma, such as a head injury.
The concussion Josi sustained in February was one of several he has suffered during his career.
Josi was still experiencing headaches in March, when he was diagnosed with POTS while getting a medical check-up in Denver.
“Over the last eight weeks, I have undergone intensive therapy, which also included taking beta blockers,” Josi told Blick this week. “I’ve been feeling much better since then. I’ve regained the belief that I’ll be 100 percent fit again and can fully attack with Nashville and the Swiss national team next winter.”
In April, when Josi met with Nashville media following the end of the Predators’ season, he expressed optimism about returning healthy in 2025-26. He said he’d recently received some encouraging medical news.
“No, I’m not concerned about [a history of head injuries], to be honest,” Josi said at the time. “I’ve dealt with it before. I think I got some really good answers, which are really positive, [things] that I can work on … I know [I’m] feeling better and better, and I have been getting better, which is really cool.”
Switzerland’s hockey hierarchy appears to feel confident about Josi’s future as well, as the defenseman was one of six players on Monday named to his nation’s preliminary roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
The 35-year-old Josi is a three-time NHL All-Star who won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman following the 2019-20 season.
A 14-year veteran who has spent his entire career in Nashville, Josi has totaled 724 points (190 goals, 534 assists) in 963 contests.