Radim Simek declined the offer from the Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings were keen on retaining defenseman Radim Simek within their organization. However, Simek had a different perspective — he was no longer willing to endure the rigors of minor league travel.

"Yes, it's true," Simek confirmed to Czech website iSport regarding the Red Wings' offer. "They offered a two-way contract with a significant guaranteed amount of money, close to the NHL minimum. But for me, it wasn't about the money anymore."

Instead, the 32-year-old Czech defenseman chose to return home, signing with the Liberec Tigers in the Czech Extraliga. This decision marked a return to the team he left seven seasons ago to pursue his NHL career with the San Jose Sharks.

Simek's stint in North American hockey last season had left him feeling disconnected. Despite serving as captain for the AHL's San Jose Barracuda following a trade-deadline move from the Sharks to the Red Wings, Simek opted out of staying in North America. He finished the 2023-24 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit's AHL affiliate, playing nine regular-season and eight playoff games.

The prospect of extensive bus travel in the minors didn't appeal to Simek anymore. "I didn't see a viable future there," he explained. "Constant travel, hours on buses — it's not something I wanted to continue at 32. My priorities have shifted."

"My wife and I are expecting our second child in October," Simek elaborated. "Being away on buses while she's home with our children wasn't a choice I could make."

Thus, Simek's return to the Czech Extraliga represented not just a hockey decision but a personal one, prioritizing family and a stable environment over the uncertainties of minor league hockey in North America.