As his 18th season of playing defense in the NHL begins, Minnesota Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian knows well that amid all of the wins and money, and even the Stanley Cup he earned in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, there’s a price you pay, physically and mentally.

To successfully play on the blue line, in the corners and in front of your own net at hockey’s highest level, your body is going to take a beating.

“It’s tough. It’s a physical game,” said Bogosian, who turned 35 over the summer. “But you do end up doing a lot of things that don’t show up on a score sheet or people might not notice. It’s a pretty painful position.”

In addition, NHL arenas are bright and loud, and the playing surface is literally ice cold. So, it’s not surprising that away from the rink, Bogosian seeks out a

See Full Page