NHL player Richard Zednik spoke to the media for the first time on Thursday, saying he thought he might die when his carotid artery was sliced open by a teammate's errant skate.

Zednik said he felt like he was stabbed when teammate Olli Jokinen's skate accidentally slashed his throat.

"I remember exactly what happened and I knew exactly what I had to do,'' he said.

"I was on the ice and I knew it was pretty bad. I was waiting to see what will happen and then I see the blood. I was like, 'OK, this is it, I have to get up, hold it and get as soon as possible to the bench.' When I was there I was like, 'It was up to them now.'''

Once Zednik reached the bench, he nearly fell into the arms of assistant trainer Dave Zenobi, who quickly applied a towel to the cut. It was then he began to fear for his life.

"A little bit,'' he said. "When I got to the bench I knew it was an artery and the way the blood was going, I didn't want to think about it. I knew I was in pretty bad shape, at that point I said it was up to them.''

"I thought I might not make it."

But the Florida Panther forward was defiant about his injury, saying that he was looking forward to returning to ice as soon as he can. The composed Zednik added that he did not think he would need to seek physiological help to recover from the traumatic incident.

"I just want to focus on my career," the 32-year-old Czech said. "In the end, I think I'll be ok."

"I'm here and I'm healthy and I'm lucky to be talking to you guys," he said at the press conference held in Sunrise, Florida.

The incident occurred in Buffalo on February 10 during the third period of a 5-3 Sabres win. Zednik was sliced across the right side of the throat when Jokinen's skate went up after being upended by Sabres forward Clarke MacArthur.

Zednik went down clutching his throat, and immediately raced to the bench, leaving behind a trail of blood. The skate blade narrowly missed cutting the jugular vein.

The carotid artery supplies blood to the brain, while the jugular vein takes blood from the brain. Blood pressure is much higher in the carotid artery.

Zednik lost five units of blood and underwent surgery at Buffalo General Hospital to re-attach the artery. When he awoke afterwards, he said he couldn't believe it had really happened to him and it all felt like a dream.

His wife, Jessica, was chartered that night to Buffalo by Florida management. The couple has a 4-year-old daughter.

Zednik was released from the hospital after six days. At Thursday's press conference he said that he did watch the horrific video of the accident when he got back to Florida but "once was enough."

Zednik expects to be back in action next season. His Florida Panthers are 13th in the Eastern Conference standings and are unlikely to make the play-offs. He was in the first year of a two-year contract with the club.

"The first game back will be emotional," he said.

Panthers coach Jacques Martin said Zednik will relax for the next four weeks before a March 18 ultrasound and then another four weeks before he can resume training.

"We're very thankful that Richard will fully recover,'' said Martin. "He'll be able to enjoy life with his wife, beautiful daughter and continue with our organization, and that's what is most important.''

Zednik also said that he planned to be wearing some kind of neck protector when he returned. The equipment is mandatory in minor hockey but is not required in pro leagues.

"For the kids, they should (wear them)," Zednik said. "But for the men, it's their decision."

"I will be looking for something (to wear). But I wouldn't have looked otherwise (without the accident)."

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press.