ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A slowish, hulking defenceman of limited skill on an up-and-coming squad booming with young talent, Roman Polak is, perhaps predictably, one of the least popular Leafs among fans.



But there’s a lot more to Polak, a native of Ostrava in the Czech Republic, than meets the eye.



Polak is witty, even sarcastic, but also brash and blunt in how he speaks. But more than that, Polak is the true underdog — a player who landed in North America at age 18 speaking no English at all; a sixth-round draft pick who’s managed to scratch an NHL career that’s approaching 700 games.



That career was put in jeopardy last spring when Polak suffered a gruesome right leg injury in the first round of the playoffs against the Capitals. He almost didn’t make it back.



The 31-year-old details the aftermath of those injuries to his leg and ankle, including a five-day morphine-induced haze and three months of hell on...