NHL Player Sent Down to AHL After Sleeping in During Team Meeting

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Skyler Walker
April 1, 2023 (5:23 PM)

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Head coach Brad Larsen has disciplined Trey Fix-Wolansky, the 23-year-old forward of the Columbus Blue Jackets, by sending him to the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. According to Larsen, Fix-Wolansky failed to attend a team meeting due to oversleeping, forcing the coach to take action.

As per the tweet from Aaron Portzline, "Trey Fix-Wolansky overslept and missed a team meeting, per coach Brad Larsen. He's been sent back to @monstershockey."

The young forward's demotion to the AHL comes with significant financial implications. Fix-Wolansky is currently on a two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets and earns a salary of $809k per year at the NHL level. However, his pay in the minors is only $70k, which is a considerable drop. The terms of the contract are pro-rated based on the number of games played at each level.

Fix-Wolansky, who was a seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL draft, has not had a successful start to his professional career. He has played seven games this season without recording a point on the scoreboard. In his twelve-game career, he has only managed to register one goal and one assist, making him a relatively unproven player in the league.

Although the financial implications of Fix-Wolansky's demotion may be significant, it provides him with an opportunity to refine his game and work on his skills in the minor leagues. The young forward must double his efforts to prove himself worthy of another chance at the NHL level.