Polak will join the Blue Jackets as a European-based amateur scout, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports Wednesday. This marks the official end of Polak's professional career.

EDGE Analysis

Polak spent last season playing in his native Czech Republic for Vitkovice HC, for which he garnered eight points in 51 contests. The blueliner spent 14 seasons playing in the NHL for the Blues, Maple Leafs, Sharks and Stars, appearing in 806 games and tallying 140 points.

Polak isn't listed on the Stars' Phase 3 training camp roster, Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Polak has already agreed to a multi-year contract with Czech club HC Vitkovice for the 2020-21 campaign and beyond, so the fact that he has elected to forego the NHL's Return to Play doesn't exactly come as a surprise. At this point it looks like the 34-year-old blueliner has almost certainly played his last NHL game. If that ends up being the case, he'll finish his NHL career having totaled 26 goals and 140 points in 806 games split between the Blues, Maple Leafs, Sharks and Stars over 14 seasons.

Polak agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with Czech club HC Vitkovice on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Polak remains under contract for the Stars for the upcoming 24-team playoff and is expected to still report to Dallas for the postseason. The defenseman was a healthy scratch in eight of the final 19 games prior to the league going on hiatus, in which he averaged just 16:16 of ice time and recorded zero points and a minus-6 rating. This likely will mark the end of the 34-year-old's NHL career, which would see him eventually retire having tallied 26 goals and 114 helpers in 806 games for St. Louis, Toronto, San Jose and Dallas.

Polak (personal) returned to practice Friday, NHL.com's Josh Clark reports.

EDGE Analysis

Polak missed Thursday's loss to the Predators due to a personal matter, but he'll be available for Saturday's rematch with Nashville. However, Andrej Sekera is currently projected to skate with Jamie Oleksiak on Dallas' third pairing Saturday, so Polak may end up being the odd man out. He's picked up four points in 40 games this campaign.

Polak won't travel with the team to Nashville for Thursday's game against the Predators due to a personal matter, Sean Shapiro of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

This essentially serves as confirmation that Polak will not take part in Thursday's contest, but there is no indication that the personal matter is expected to hold him out of extended action. There's a good chance he will be back with the team when it returns to Dallas for Saturday's rematch with Nashville.

Polak has no points in his last 22 games.

EDGE Analysis

During that span, he's sat out six games as a healthy scratch while racking up 60 hits, 44 blocked shots and 22 PIM. Polak will continue to compete with Andrej Sekera and Taylor Fedun for playing time, but none of those three blueliners figure to carry much fantasy value.

Polak has been a healthy scratch in two of the last three games.

EDGE Analysis

The Czech blueliner is mired in a 17-game point drought. Polak has seen Stephen Johns muscle him out of the lineup recently. Andrej Sekera has been Polak's recent competition for playing time, but neither of those defensemen warrants any fantasy attention, as both play a mostly defensive style.

Polak has no points in his last 13 games.

EDGE Analysis

The Czech blueliner has posted 35 hits, 24 blocked shots and eight PIM in that span. Polak is more of a defensive player anyway, with just four helpers in 31 games this season. He's produced 79 hits and 73 blocks as well, but that production isn't enough to make him useful in most fantasy formats.

Polak has no points in his last eight games.

EDGE Analysis

In that span, the defenseman has produced 22 hits, 19 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating. Polak rarely gets on the scoresheet -- he has four assists in 26 appearances this season. It's his defensive work that keeps him in the lineup. It's working so far, as the Stars allow just 2.33 goals per game.

Polak recorded an assist and two hits in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Flames.

EDGE Analysis

Polak has an assist in each of his last two games, which accounts for exactly half of his offense this season. The 33-year-old blueliner has added 44 hits, 49 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating through 18 contests.