Tyler Seguin reflects on his experience in the NHL bubble, says he has ‘no regrets’ about the Stars’ Stanley Cup run

Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin recently joined Hangzone on Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket [KTCK-AM] to discuss the team’s season and reflect on the NHL bubble. Here are some highlights, edited for clarity:

Was there ever a point during the Stanley Cup run that you thought you needed to miss a game?

Tyler Seguin: “I knew during the run that I wouldn’t be playing [if it was] the regular season, or I’d at least be taking off a week here or a week there. But before the games started to mean something when we were in the exhibition games, or the first exhibition game you saw me miss.

“Then during the round-robin games, I missed [one game] again just because I knew I needed it and I wanted to try to be able to play in the playoff games. I think at that time you kind of know your goal is to go all the way, but I was just trying to do everything I could focusing on that one next game to just get through that next game. Sure enough, it was 25 games later and we were so close, but I don’t have any regrets of playing, obviously.”

Did you know you needed surgery?

Seguin: “No I didn’t know I needed surgery. I knew I needed something done with my knee and I knew I needed something done with my hip. But when the hip stuff happened, I didn’t want to know too much detail. I didn’t want to go do the MRIs and X-rays. I already knew something was wrong and I had been dealing with my knee and my quad and that I should have figured out when we were done. And sure enough, it was 20-something games later. I went back home and did the MRIs and X-rays and got told that I tore my labrum and had to do major hip surgery. So that was that.”

How painful was it playing through the injury and did you ever get cortisone shots to help manage the pain?

Seguin: “Yep, that happened quite often. I don’t want to say every day, but every few days. Every game was just a process of making it into that starting lineup. Then the next part of it was making sure I was playing and not hurting my teammates and that I could help the team. That was what I thought in my head.

“That’s why I said I had no regrets. I laid it all out there and every guy in that locker room did. I don’t think anyone looks back and says that there wasn’t a guy in our organization that didn’t make sacrifices to be there and to get that far. We got a lot of experience and I’m really looking forward to this year’s playoffs.”

Did you watch Jeff Totes’ documentary once the dust had settled?

Seguin: “Yeah I did. I didn’t really watch any highlights from the games, especially the last one. I still haven’t to this day watched the last game on tape. I did sit down and watch the documentary. … Watching it, I did feel like I was going through the motions again. It was tough to watch. … But it was well done. Definitely a memorable time.”

What were your takeaways from the bubble experience?

Seguin: “For starters, I wouldn’t want to go back. I don’t know if anyone would want to go back into a bubble. It was tough. It was a mental grind for everybody. That’s not an excuse for any of us or myself or anyone. We all went through it and every team went through it together. … We’re players and we get paid to do what we love, but there were a lot of sacrifices that guys made. Guys have kids and families that couldn’t be there, and that goes for the coaching staffs, too. It made being in the Finals that much more special … but when I see people with the notion that it wasn’t a true Stanley Cup or that it was an easier Cup to win… I would still say it was probably the hardest. You got to congratulate Tampa Bay for what they did. I’m still a firm believer that our time’s going to come, but all I can do right now is watch the boys on TV.”

Click here to listen to the full interview.

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