Milan Michálek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milan Michálek |
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Michálek with the Ottawa Senators in 2013
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| Born | 7 December 1984 Jindřichův Hradec, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Left wing | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shot | Left | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | San Jose Sharks Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs |
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| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 6th overall, 2003 San Jose Sharks |
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| Playing career | 2000–2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Milan Michálek (born on December 7, 1984) is a former professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He played as a left winger in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was chosen very early in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, as the sixth player picked overall, by the San Jose Sharks.
Milan's older brother, Zbyněk Michálek, was also a professional hockey player. Zbyněk played as a defenceman in the NHL.
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Playing Hockey in the NHL
Milan Michálek started his NHL career with a bang. He scored a goal in his very first game! However, in his next game on October 11, 2003, he suffered a serious knee injury. He tore his right ACL, which is an important ligament in the knee.
After having surgery on his knee, Milan played in a league called the American Hockey League (AHL). This was to help him get back into shape. Unfortunately, he injured his knee again in January. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, when NHL games were paused, Milan spent his time recovering and getting his knee strong again.
First Full Season with the Sharks
Milan played his first full season with the San Jose Sharks in 2005–06. He scored 17 goals and earned 35 points that season. His great performance led him to win the San Jose Sharks' PlayStation Rookie of the Year award. This award is given to the best new player on the team.
In the 2006–07 season, Milan became an even stronger player. He was known for his speed and his ability to score goals. He scored 26 goals and had a total of 66 points. After this successful season, he signed a big contract with the Sharks. It was a six-year deal, which was the longest and most valuable contract a Sharks player had signed at that time.
During the 2007–08, Milan often played on the Sharks' top line with star player Joe Thornton. He scored 24 goals and had 55 points. Even though his points were a bit lower, he was still the second-highest scorer on the team.
Moving to the Ottawa Senators
On September 12, 2009, Milan Michálek was traded from the Sharks to the Ottawa Senators. A trade in hockey means players are exchanged between teams. Milan moved to Ottawa along with another player, Jonathan Cheechoo, and a draft pick. In return, the Sharks received player Dany Heatley.
With the Senators, Milan achieved a special milestone. On October 15, 2009, he scored his first career NHL hat-trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning. A hat-trick means scoring three goals in one game! Two of his goals were scored while his team was shorthanded, and one was on a powerplay. Later, on December 1, he scored two goals against his former team, the San Jose Sharks.
All-Star Season and Later Career
Milan faced another injury on December 13, 2011, when he got a concussion after colliding with his teammate Erik Karlsson. He had to miss five games because of this. At that time, he was leading the entire NHL in goals, with 19 goals scored.
Even with the injury, fans voted for him to be a starter in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game. This is a special game where the best players from around the league play against each other. Milan finished that season with a career-high of 35 goals.
During the 2015–16, while he was recovering from an injury, Milan was traded again. On February 9, 2016, he moved to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was part of a big trade involving nine players, with Dion Phaneuf going to Ottawa. Milan played his last NHL games with the Maple Leafs.
Playing for His Country
Milan Michálek also proudly represented his home country, the Czech Republic, in international hockey tournaments.
He played on the Czech Republic Olympic hockey team in 2010. His brother, Zbyněk, was also on that team. Milan played in five games and scored two goals during those Olympics. The two brothers also played together for the Czech team in the 2014 Olympics. In these games, the Czech team finished in sixth place.
Milan also won bronze medals for the Czech Republic at the 2011 and 2012 World Championships. He also won a bronze medal at the 2002 World U18 Championships when he was younger.
Career Highlights
Milan Michálek played a total of 747 games in the NHL. He scored 208 goals and had 238 assists, for a total of 446 points. He was a strong and important player for the teams he played for.
See also
- Notable families in the NHL
