REPORT: Simek Says Sharks Lied to Him

Now the San Jose Sharks’ season is over, Radim Simek will actually play some hockey games.

Simek, along with Tomas Hertl, just joined Team Czechia for the World Championships, set to start next week.

Čau kluci 🤝 pic.twitter.com/sIdp75ikQT

— Hokejový nároďák (@narodnitym) May 5, 2022

It hasn’t been all smiles recently for Simek though, coming off a challenging year with the San Jose Sharks. After Mar. 5, the 29-year-old defenseman played just two of San Jose’s 27 remaining games. In one of those two appearances, Simek actually played forward for the first time since he was 12.

Radim Simek, who was healthy for a good portion of the last two months of the season, expressed some discontent to Hokej.cz earlier today.

“I was told younger guys must play [in my place]. Coaches told me the decision comes from management. The management told me it’s just the coaching staff’s call. Someone outright lied to me, they didn’t tell me the truth,” Simek said. “With the national team, I want to prove to myself that I can still play ice hockey.”

Before the All-Star break, when the San Jose Sharks were still in playoff hunt, Simek appeared in 28 of 46 games. But after the break, Simek found himself low on the depth chart behind young and/or inexperienced blueliners like Ryan Merkley, Nicolas Meloche, Jaycob Megna, and Jake Middleton.

“It’s not nice,” Simek added. “One always wonders who’s telling the truth and who’s not. I’ve been brought up to always tell the truth and be honest. I’m not saying they are not honest, but in this case, they didn’t want to tell me the truth. It stings a little bit, but what can you do?”

Radim Simek is signed for two more years with a $2.25 million AAV. It could prove to be a little bit of an awkward reunion if he returns to the San Jose Sharks for the 2022-23 season.

Thanks to Czech soccer writer and big San Jose Sharks fan Tomas Danicek for his translation assist.