"This summer, I wasn't really able to do any of the things I need to do to prepare for the NHL season. I tried to work through it and find a way to train. We're here now because I couldn't, and I'm going to get it fixed. Definitely one of the hardest things I've been through."
"Getting it taken care of as a 33-year-old professional athlete is a little bit different. I thought I'd have to do it when I was 50, down the road and retired. So, I always knew it was something that would have to be done. It's just disappointing and sad it has to be now."
He was visibly emotional. It's understandable, considering that nothing indicates he'll be back on his feet for the 2025-26 season and he could even be forced to retire, something he mentioned in his speech:
"Obviously, being out for the year, you can understand it's a pretty big surgery that I have to get ... that goes into the mental side of things that have been pretty tough for me."
"At 33 years old, when you miss a whole year of hockey, those things cross your mind. I don't want to look too far ahead, but yeah, those are things that you definitely think about."