Martin Straka

Martin Straka (born September 3, 1972) is a Czech former ice hockey center who most recently played for HC Plzeň 1929 of the Czech Extraliga. He is also the club's general manager and co-owner, having bought a 70% share of the team in 2009.^[1] Straka played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1992 until 2008 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.

Playing career

Straka was drafted 19th overall by the Penguins in the 1992 NHL entry draft, and played for several teams throughout his 15-year NHL career. After a productive first full season with the Penguins, the shortened 1994–95 season saw him produce only four goals and 16 points in 31 games, after which Straka was traded to the Ottawa Senators on April 7, 1995, for Norm MacIver and Troy Murray. The following season, on January 23, 1996, less than a year after being traded to Ottawa, he was traded again. Straka was traded to the New York Islanders in a three-way, five-player deal between Ottawa, New York and the Toronto Maple Leafs, involving Straka, Kirk Muller, Ken Belanger, Don Beaupre, Bryan Berard, Damian Rhodes and Wade Redden. He was later placed on waivers and claimed by the Florida Panthers on March 15, 1996. Florida did not re-sign Straka after the 1996–97 season, making him an unrestricted free agent. He then returned to Pittsburgh beginning in 1997–98.

In 1998–99, he set new career highs, recording 35 goals and 48 assists. His second season was less successful, but he had established himself as one of the league's premier two-way players due to his speed and on-ice vision. With the return of Mario Lemieux, he went on to have a career year during the 2000–01 season for Pittsburgh, amassing 27 goals and 95 points in 82 games.

In the 2001–02 season, his reputation for speed was affected by a season-ending injury in the form of a broken leg, from which it took him years to fully recover. On November 30, 2003, in a cost-cutting move, the Penguins dealt Straka to the Los Angeles Kings for Russian prospect Sergei Anshakov and defenceman Martin Strbak. Straka later signed as a free agent with the Rangers on August 2, 2005, and went on to have two productive 70-point seasons. On January 17, 2007, despite reports that he was considering retirement, Straka signed a one-year contract extension for the 2007–08 season.

On February 16, 2008, in a game against the Buffalo Sabres, Straka assisted on a goal to record his 700th NHL point.

He was a part of the gold medal-winning Olympic team at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. He also won gold in the 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in Vienna.

In July 2008, Straka returned home to the Czech Extraliga, signing a one-year deal with HC Lasselsberger Plzeň (now HC Plzeň 1929).^[2]

In the 2012–13 season, he won with HC Škoda Plzeň Czech Extraliga title. He scored a winning goal in 7th final play-off game versus PSG Zlín in second overtime.

On March 28, 2014, Straka announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

References

1. ^ EliteProspects.com: Martin Straka (staff profile)
2. ^ "Straka signs one-year deal with Czech club". TSN. 2008-07-10.