Newest Duck Sekac adjusting to SoCal life as he waits for paperwork to become official
In the #NHLDucks Pregame Report: @sekacjiri dishes on trade, Ducks prep for @Senators: http://t.co/EnJyS5tjIU https://t.co/AScHFy5iJQ
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) February 25, 2015
The Anaheim Ducks' new winger Jiri Sekac has made it to town and was on the ice with the team during Wednesday's morning skate.
However, it's unknown at this point whether or not he will be on the ice Wednesday night when the Ducks play Ottawa, as he is still waiting for his immigration paperwork to go through.
"He's automatically in unless we don't get it," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We'll bring in the extra forward for warmup and if he doesn't get the immigration then he can't play."
The 22-year-old out of the Czech Republic was a little reserved in the dressing room, still trying to make sense of it all. He's only played 50 NHL games and he's never even been to California before.
Sekac was traded by the Montreal Canadiens for Devante Smith-Pelly on Tuesday.
Sekac said it's been tough, but acknowledged that the role he played in Montreal didn't exactly suit him. The Canadiens system is heavily focused on defense and trying to grow into a two-way player his first year playing on NHL ice was challenging for Sekac. The pressure to succeed in Montreal is also much greater than in laid back Orange County.
"The pressure to win is still the same but it's just the way it is in Montreal, it's very tough," he said. "It's a tough to place to play. We were winning, but still if you don't have success then the media and everyone is going to be on you so it's a little bit tougher."
Former teammate Rene Bourque has been helping to ease his transition and Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf also reached out to him. Emerson Etem, a true area local from Long Beach, was waiting for Sekac after the morning skate.
Here's Jiri! @sekacjiri joins the #NHLDucks for today's morning skate @HondaCenter. #OTTvsANA pic.twitter.com/ECgdVHdUew
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) February 25, 2015
"The guys are here for me and so far from what I've seen, it's a pretty good group of guys," Sekac said.
With the addition of Sekac on the left side, Boudreau did some significant shuffling on the right and left in the morning skate. Right winger Kyle Palmieri was moved up to the top line on the left wing and Andrew Cogliano was moved over to the right wing on the third line.
With Sekac still so new in the league and so new to the team, it's tough to tell what kind of role he will play.
"It's too early," Boudreau said. "I don't know any more than I knew yesterday. He looks like he can skate, he's got a good shot watching him out there, skilled. So that's my knowledge, right now, of him."
