Martin Straka

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Czech RepublicCzech Republic  Martin Straka Ice hockey player
Martin Straka
Date of birth 3rd September 1972
place of birth Pilsen , Czechoslovakia
size 175 cm
Weight 82 kg
position center
Shot hand Left
Draft
NHL Entry Draft 1992 , 1st lap, 19th position
Pittsburgh Penguins
Career stations
until 1992 TJ Škoda Plzeň
1992-1995 Pittsburgh Penguins
1995-1996 Ottawa Senators
1996 New York Islanders
1996-1997 Florida panthers
1997-2003 Pittsburgh Penguins
2003-2004 Los Angeles Kings
2004-2005 HC Lasselsberger Plzeň
2005-2008 New York Rangers
2008-2014 HC Plzeň

Martin Straka (born September 3, 1972 in Pilsen , Czechoslovakia ) is a former Czech ice hockey player , who last played for HC Skoda Plzeň in the Czech Extraliga and is its general manager and co-owner. He also began his career in Pilsen, but later played for numerous clubs in the North American National Hockey League (NHL) for a long time . He has also been the club's head coach since 2017.

Career

Straka began his professional career in 1989 in his hometown with HC Škoda Plzeň . Here he was able to make a very strong impression at a young age and so the Pittsburgh Penguins selected him in the first round in the first round in the NHL Entry Draft in 19th place. He immediately moved to North America.

The 1992/93 season he began with the Cleveland Lumberjacks in the IHL , but was able to prevail with the Penguins and played the second half of the season in the NHL. In the penguins he also played with his compatriot Jaromír Jágr . After a good 1993/94 season , a very eventful time for Straka followed. The 1994/95 season started late due to a strike and Straka was back in his home town of Plzeň in autumn 1994. When the season started he was back with the Penguins, but they gave him over to the Ottawa Senators together with Don Beaupre during the season . Ottawa couldn't agree on their top draft pick Bryan Berard and traded it with the New York Islanders for second in the draft, Wade Redden , and Damian Rhodes . As part of this swap, Straka also had to go to the Islanders. He played 22 games for the Isles before he was given up to the Florida Panthers that same season . The coming season he was spared change, but he played an unconvincing season in Florida.

Straka in the jersey of the New York Rangers

His contract in Florida had expired and so the Pittsburgh Penguins signed him as a free agent . Reunited with Jágr, his performance also improved. He played with the Czech team at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano and won the gold medal there. He was also nominated for the 1999 NHL All-Star Game . In Pittsburgh he increased his best performance in the 2000/01 season to 95 points. The following season was overshadowed by an injury that knocked him out of the running early in the season and also cost him participation in the Olympics. In the 2003/04 season , the Penguins gave him again. He moved to the Los Angeles Kings .

This was followed by the 2004/05 strike season , which he spent back in his home country at HC Škoda Plzeň.

For the 2005/06 season he again followed his friend Jaromír Jágr and signed a contract with the New York Rangers . There he played a strong season. Together with Jágr he also played for the Czech national ice hockey team at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin .

For the 2008/09 season, Straka returns to his home club HC Plzeň, where he also acted as general manager in addition to the ice cream . Since 2011 he has also been one of the owners of the operating company of the professional team - as the sole shareholder of HC PLZEŇ Investment as, he owns 70% of the shares in the company. After the 2013/14 season he ended his playing career, but remained with the club as a manager and partner.

Achievements and Awards

International

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Straka, Martin
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Czech ice hockey player
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd September 1972
PLACE OF BIRTH Plzeň