Martin Straka

Martin Straka
Born	September 3, 1972 Plzeň, TCH
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Forward
Shot	Left
Played for	Pittsburgh Penguins Ottawa Senators New York Islanders Florida Panthers Los Angeles Kings New York Rangers HC Plzeň 1929
National team	Czech Republic
NHL Draft	19th overall, 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	1989–2014

Martin Straka (born September 3, 1972) is a retired Czech ice hockey centre 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 has played for several teams throughout his 15 year NHL career. After producing only 4 goals and 16 points in 31 games, 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, along with Don Beaupre and former #1 overall pick Bryan Berard was traded to the New York Islanders for Damian Rhodes and Wade Redden. He would be placed on waivers and claimed by the Florida Panthers on March 15, 1996. Florida would not re-sign Straka after the 1996–97 season, which made him an unrestricted free agent. He then returned to Pittsburgh beginning in 1997-98.

He would go on to have a career year during the 2000–2001 season for Pittsburgh as he amassed 27 goals and 95 points and establish himself as one of the leagues premiere two-way players due to his explosive speed and on-ice vision. However, the following season his speedy reputation would be called into jeopardy as Straka would suffer a season-ending injury in the form of a broken leg, an injury which would take him years to recover from. On November 30, 2003, in a cost-cutting move, the Penguins would deal Straka to the Los Angeles Kings for Russian prospect Sergei Anshakov and defenceman Martin Strbak. Straka would later sign as a free agent by the Rangers on August 2, 2005. 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 season 2012-13, 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						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1989–90	Plzeň	Czechoslovak		1	0	3	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Plzeň	Czechoslovak		47	7	24	31	6		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Plzeň	Czechoslovak		36	26	14	40	20		14	4	4	8	—
1992–93	Cleveland Lumberjacks	IHL		4	4	3	7	0		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		42	3	13	16	29		11	2	1	3	2
1993–94	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		84	30	34	64	24		6	1	0	1	2
1994–95	Plzeň	Czech		19	10	11	21	0		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		31	4	12	16	16		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Ottawa Senators	NHL		6	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Ottawa Senators	NHL		43	9	16	25	29		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	New York Islanders	NHL		22	2	10	12	6		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Florida Panthers	NHL		12	2	4	6	6		13	2	2	4	2
1996–97	Florida Panthers	NHL		55	7	22	29	12		4	0	0	0	0
1997–98	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		75	19	23	42	28		6	2	0	2	2
1998–99	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		80	35	48	83	26		13	6	9	15	6
1999–00	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		71	20	39	59	26		11	3	9	12	10
2000–01	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		82	27	68	95	38		18	5	8	13	8
2001–02	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		13	5	4	9	0		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		60	18	28	46	12		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		22	4	8	12	16		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		32	6	8	14	4		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Plzeň	Czech		45	16	18	34	76		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	New York Rangers	NHL		82	22	54	76	42		4	0	0	0	2
2006–07	New York Rangers	NHL		76	29	41	70	24		10	2	8	10	2
2007–08	New York Rangers	NHL		65	14	27	41	22		10	3	7	10	16
2008–09	Plzeň	Czech		51	22	30	52	20		17	8	13	21	2
2009–10	Plzeň	Czech		35	17	26	43	32		6	2	2	4	4
2010–11	Plzeň	Czech		51	17	44	61	12		--	--	--	--	--
2011–12	Plzeň	Czech		51	17	30	47	20		12	2	11	13	4
2012–13	Plzeň	Czech		47	15	39	54	18		26	--	--	--	--
NHL totals				954	257	460	717	360		106	26	44	70	52
Czechoslovak/Czech Extraliga totals				383	147	239	386	204		75	16	30	46	10

International play

Olympic medal record
Men's ice hockey
	1998 Nagano	Team
	2006 Turin	Team
World Championships
	2005 Vienna	Ice hockey

Season	Team	Event		GP	G	A	P	PIM
1998	CzechRep	Oly		6	1	2	3	0
2005	CzechRep	WC		9	3	1	4	8
2006	CzechRep	Oly		8	2	6	8	6

References

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

External links

• Martin Straka's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Martin Straka's career statistics at EliteProspects.com