6/18: Predators general manager Barry Trotz released a statement acknowledging Josi’s POTS diagnosis. In it, he shared that the star defender has recovered exceptionally well following treatment, and is expected to be fully ready for training camp next season. Josi will be entering the 15th season of his NHL career, and sits 38 games away from his 1,000th appearance.
6/17: Predators captain Roman Josi was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome while recovering from his season-ending concussion, he told Swiss newspaper Blick.
The condition, widely known as POTS, causes one’s heart rate to spike abnormally when transitioning from sitting or lying down to standing up, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It almost always affects women from ages 15 to 50, but can affect men in rarer cases, particularly if they meet certain risk factors. Among those stressors is a recent head injury, per the Cleveland Clinic, as in Josi’s case.
“Over the last eight weeks, I have undergone intensive therapy, which also included taking beta blockers. I’ve been feeling much better since then,” Josi said. “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.”
Josi initially feared he’d exacerbated his initial concussion, which he sustained on a hit from Panthers center Sam Bennett on Feb. 25. He’s only sustained one confirmed concussion before at the NHL level in the 2013-14 season, but the Nashville star was still experiencing headaches well into his recovery from his recent one. Those ended up being due to developing POTS and have since improved, he said.
The 35-year-old can now resume preparation for what will be his 15th NHL season, all with the Predators, in 2025-26. He’s on track to play his 1,000th game in the upcoming season in a career that’s already cemented him as the best skater in Nashville franchise history, ranking first all-time among Preds skaters in games played (962), assists (534), points (724), and average time on ice (24:52).
Last year was an underwhelming one from the captain, though. After breaking the point-per-game mark twice in the prior three seasons, his output decreased to 38 points in 53 games. That 0.72 mark was south of his career average and his worst post-pandemic offensive performance. His -26 rating was also a career low as he got little help from Nashville’s netminders despite keeping up high-end possession play, even logging a career-high 56.2 CF% at even strength.
That latter number should indicate a rebound performance if the club’s offense, which ranked 31st in the league this year, improves around him. Of course, the Preds have little chance of improving on this past season’s 30-44-8 record next year if Josi’s absence stretches into the campaign. Thankfully, it appears that won’t be the case. He has three seasons remaining on his contract at a $9.06MM cap hit.
Just more proof of Florida’s headhunting tactics smh. It’s utterly ridiculous. The league really needs to crack down on Florida’s dirty & underhanded tactics with continuing to try to intentionally injure & end careers. It’s disgusting.
Dude, stop it. They’re not trying to intentionally injure and end careers every time they hit the ice. They’re a chippy team. It’s part of hockey. Yes, they’ve had dirty and unacceptable hits (Ekblad’s forearm shiver to Hagel’s head was outrageous), but every team does. Florida’s get the most intense scrutiny because they win. That simple.
(Lightning had the same thing happening to them with Kuch in their heyday. Same for the Capitals with Tom Wilson. Bruins with Marchand. Winners get more focus.)
Like clockwork. Another day, another rant.
@Lightning Strike – No, not going to stop. You believe what you want. Yes, hockey is physical but calling Florida chippy is like saying a demolition derby is just bumpy. There are many hockey fans scrutinizing Florida for a reason & it’s because the facts are they play with dirty underhanded tactics. Tom Wilson plays physical (he even warns a player he’s going to hit them) & Brad Marchand plays physical & embellishes hits. Those are not dirty but people like Bennett consistently aim for the heads of players, that’s flat out dirty. He’s constantly been falling on the goalies in the playoffs. You can even see him looking on where to land when he supposedly falls. It’s intentional but hey, ignorance is bliss.
Signed.. Oilers fan.
Dude, to have the bias show so blatantly and then say “ignorance is bliss” to those who disagree is more than a bit rich. (Also, please don’t defend Tom Wilson. He’s not as bad as he used to be, but come on, Google “Tom Wilson elbow Oskar Sundqvist”)
@LS – Just ignore him. He is a putz begging for attention.
@Lightning Strike – Bias?!? LOL! It’s not bias if there is blatant & consistent evidence of players like Bennett on Florida who do dirty head shots or intentionally trying to hurt a player or a goalie. I can careless if you agree with me or not as there is many NHL fans of all kinds calling out Florida’s tactics, not just me. If there is smoke, there is fire. It’s ease to win, when you’re out to injure the opponent first then play the game. Let’s just start turning the NHL into the UFC on ice, if that’s the case. I’m going to continue to call it out & if you or anyone don’t like it, then it’s real simple, don’t read my comment(s) on the matter. It’s not my problem, it’s yours. I’ll say what I want, whenever I want. Don’t tell me to stop it just because you don’t like it.
Dude UFC on ice? Have you watched the 80s and 90s? What Bennett “does” would be not even penalty worthy. The game and its fans are getting soft. Just because a big hit results in an injury does not make it dirty. Guys used to take every chance they had for headshots and while I don’t condone headshots I feel any big hit now is considered a “headshot”. You want dirty watch Domi on Niedermeyer or McSorley on brashear. I mean Scott Steven’s hits weren’t dirty but now he’s never play again. And this is coming from an oilers fan and while I don’t particularly like Bennett or Tkachuk (I do like Marchand) boy do they bring intensity, are tough to play against and most importantly they win. Wilson won a cup. Marchand won a cup. Florida may get their second tonight. These guys were key players. Yeah Wilson pushes the boundaries but he’s paid the price for it.
Aww sweetie
Hockey seems to scare you.
He’s not wrong though, particularly about Bennett.
Yeah, Bennett plays way over the so-called edge. The hit on Josi is insane. I’m not even a Preds fan, but the way he targeted Josi, going through several players just to ram his head into the boards was sickening to watch. The fact that he’s injured not one, but two, goalies in the playoffs — I don’t know what to say. It’s bad for the sport when the starting goalies get forearm-shivered in the head and the Panthers get to go against backups. Would the Leafs have won with Stolarz starting every game? Would the Canes have done better with a healthy Freddy? Who knows, but it’s better for the game when the goalie doesn’t get targeted. Not to mention his hit on Marchand last year. And this is coming from someone who can’t stand Marchand haha.
I just wish there was a way the players could police themselves…
Yeah same. Oh well I can’t think of a good solution.
A functioning DoPS would be too much to ask.
He’s so bad for the game they gave him the conn smythe……
No one said he wasn’t effective. He is an effective player. The play where he made two checks and then raced up the ice and scored will probably be remembered as one of the great plays of all time. And he scored 15 goals. Awesome. What I think is bad for the game is him headhunting players like Josi — a great player himself who should be allowed to play the game, and his career could have been ended — and giving goalies concussions.
I hope Josi is OK. I’m always amazed at all the side effects of a concussion.
Try repeating the name of that syndrome 3 times! :0
Hope he heals up fully from this.
Florida isn’t more or less willing to lay career-threatening hits than any other team. They’ve just managed to switch off the part of the brain that prevents you from following through. Every other coach would love to get that switch flipped on their own team.
Roman Josi almost has my favorite condition: @POTUS
He has my vote! o7
I just watched the hit and like it really didn’t look like Bennett hit him that hard like he stuck his elbow into his back and he was moving at a high rate of speed. He really coulda creamed him like it looked like he DID let up to me. Obviously Josi flew hard or he wouldn’t be concussed what a weird hit.