Roman Polák facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roman Polák |
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Polák with the St. Louis Blues in 2011
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| Born | 28 April 1986 Ostrava, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | HC Vítkovice St. Louis Blues Toronto Maple Leafs San Jose Sharks Dallas Stars |
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| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 180th overall, 2004 St. Louis Blues |
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| Playing career | 2005–2022 | ||
Roman Polák, born on April 28, 1986, is a former professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He played as a defenceman, which is a player who helps protect the team's goal. Roman was chosen by the St. Louis Blues in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He played for several teams in the NHL, including the Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars. He started and ended his career playing for HC Vítkovice in his home country.
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Roman Polák's Hockey Journey
Starting in the NHL
Roman Polák was picked by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. This means he was the 180th player chosen that year. Before playing professionally, he spent a season with the Kootenay Ice in the Western Hockey League (WHL). After that, he went back to the Czech Republic to play for HC Vítkovice.
In the 2006–07 season, Roman came back to North America. He played his very first NHL game on October 9, 2006, against the Anaheim Ducks. For two seasons, he split his time between the Blues and their minor league team, the Peoria Rivermen. By the 2008–09 season, Roman earned a full-time spot on the Blues' main roster.
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Roman scored his first NHL goal in his 57th game on December 20, 2008. This goal was against the Minnesota Wild. He finished that season with 15 points in 69 games. The Blues were impressed and signed him to a new two-year contract in July 2009. Over the next two seasons, Roman became a key player on the Blues' defense. He was known as one of their best defensive defencemen. Because of his strong play, the Blues signed him to a five-year contract extension in June 2011.
Moving to New Teams
On June 28, 2014, Roman Polák was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In return, the Blues received another defenceman, Carl Gunnarsson, and a draft pick. During his first season with the Maple Leafs, Roman scored 5 goals, which was his highest number of goals in a single season.
On February 22, 2016, Roman was traded again, this time to the San Jose Sharks. He went to the Sharks along with another player, Nick Spaling. The Maple Leafs received two future draft picks and a forward named Raffi Torres. Roman was part of the Sharks team that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time ever. However, they lost the championship to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Returning to Toronto and Dallas
After playing for the Sharks, Roman Polák returned to the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 2, 2016, signing a one-year contract. Many people thought the Maple Leafs might trade him again later in the season. However, the team played much better than expected and was in a good position to make the playoffs. Because of this, Roman stayed with the team.
On March 23, 2017, Roman received his first suspension in his career. He was suspended for two games because of a hit from behind on a player from the Columbus Blue Jackets. After his suspension, Roman helped the Maple Leafs reach the playoffs. This was the first time the team made the playoffs in a full season since 2004. In the playoffs, Roman suffered a lower-body injury during a game against the Washington Capitals. This injury kept him from playing for the rest of the playoffs.
On September 14, 2017, Roman signed a special contract called a professional tryout. This allowed him to train with the Maple Leafs while he was a free agent. On October 22, 2017, he officially signed a one-year contract to play his fourth season with the Maple Leafs.
On July 1, 2018, Roman Polák signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars. In the 2018–19 season, he brought a strong physical presence to the Stars' defense. He played in 77 games, scoring 1 goal and getting 9 points. In the playoffs, he helped the Stars reach the second round, where they lost to his former team, the St. Louis Blues.
On June 6, 2019, Roman decided to stay with the Dallas Stars and signed another one-year contract extension. In the 2019–20 season, he provided experienced leadership to the Stars' defense. He had 4 assists in 41 games before the season was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this break, Roman decided to sign a three-year contract to play for his original team, HC Vítkovice, back in the Czech Republic. He chose not to join the Stars when the NHL restarted its season.
International Play
Roman Polák also represented his home country, the Czech Republic, in international hockey tournaments. He won two bronze medals early in his career: one at the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships and another at the 2005 World Junior Championships. He also played for the Czech national team in the World Championships, the Olympic Games, and the World Cup of Hockey.
