Detroit Draftee Thankful For Kindness of Red Wings, Fischer

Goaltender Jan Bednar was a Detroit Red Wings draftee, but he hadn’t signed a contract with the club. So when he was 19 and required to undergo major surgery for blood clots in his hand and lungs, in theory, the team had no responsibility to help Bednar out.

That wasn’t the case, though. The Red Wings covered the cost of his surgeries, his aftercare, and rehab.

Goaltender Jan Bednar is a warrior through and through.

We love having you here, Bedzy! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/TwrFowuAdW

— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) April 27, 2024

Bednar, Detroit’s 107th overall selection in the 2020 NHL entry draft, required one surgery to remove blood clots that were blocking a blood vessel in his arm. A second operation saw the removal of one of his ribs to allow for a vein to function more easily in moving blood to his heart.

While in Detroit, Red Wings associate director of player personnel Jiri Fischer welcomed Bednar to stay in his home during his six-month recovery. Fischer had been through his own life-threatening issue, a heart ailment that ended his NHL career as a Red Wings defenseman in 2005.

“I lived with Fischer after the surgery,” Bednar told Finnish website Ilta-Sanomat. “He didn’t have to take me into his home, but he wanted to help and take care of me. Jiri offered me his own home because he thought it wouldn’t be good for me to be alone in a hotel for weeks.”

It was a scary time for Bednar. First, he feared for his life. Afterward, he wondered whether his goaltending days were done.

“There was a possibility that my career would have ended there,” Bednar said. “It was such a serious matter. I didn’t want to think about the worst-case scenario, but of course, it was on my mind at the time. That it could have been that.”

Red Wings Stepped Up For Goalie Prospect

It wasn’t, of course. Bednar signed an AHL deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s top farm club. He played for the Griffins and in the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye.

In the summer, Bednar signed a one-year pact with Assat Pori of Finland’s SM-liiga. He recently re-upped with the team for another season.

Jan Bednář -show 🦸‍♂️👊#Liiga #Ässät pic.twitter.com/NTKxHjZFdN

— Liiga (@smliiga) October 8, 2025

Still, Bednar is forever grateful for all the Red Wings did for him during this terrifying time in his life.

“I learned that the people who truly care show up in difficult times like these,” Bednar said. “I am forever grateful to have so many good people around me who care.”

Bednar has also found love in Europe and with another goalie. He and Viktorie Svejdova, goaltender for the Czech women’s national team, have been a couple for over two years.

“It’s quite unique,” Bednar said. “Two goalkeepers together.

“We actually met in Finland. We were both here with the national teams a couple of years ago, and we got to know each other then. We’ve been together ever since.

With Bednar playing in Finland this season and Svejdova in the Swedish women’s pro league with Rogle, they were even able to spend Christmas together for the first time.