Zbyněk Michálek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zbyněk Michálek |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|||
| Born | 23 December 1982 Jindřichův Hradec, Czechoslovakia |
||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Minnesota Wild Arizona Coyotes Pittsburgh Penguins St. Louis Blues HC Sparta Praha |
||
| National team |  Czech Republic |
||
| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2002–2019 | ||
Zbyněk Michálek (born December 23, 1982) is a former professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He played as a defence player. He last played for Sparta Praha in the top Czech league. Zbyněk also played in the NHL for teams like the Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. He is the older brother of Milan Michálek, who was also a famous NHL player.
Contents
Playing Career
Junior Hockey Days
Zbyněk Michálek played two seasons of junior ice hockey. He played for the Shawinigan Cataractes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Even though he was not picked in the NHL Entry Draft (which is when NHL teams choose young players), he started playing professional hockey in 2002. He played for the Houston Aeros in the American Hockey League (AHL). He even won a championship called the Calder Cup with them in 2003.
Professional Career
Starting with the Wild and Coyotes
Zbyněk Michálek first played in the NHL during the 2003–04 season. He played for the Minnesota Wild, which was the main team for the Houston Aeros. In 2005, Michálek was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes. He played five seasons for the Coyotes. During the 2008–09 season, he was the best in the NHL at blocking shots. His great playing helped the Coyotes reach the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2010. This was their first time in the playoffs since 2002.
Time with the Pittsburgh Penguins
On July 1, 2010, Zbyněk Michálek signed a big contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was a "free agent," meaning he could choose any team to play for. Before he joined, many people thought he was a very valuable player. They called him "The Defenseman Every Team Wants." This was because he was very good at defence, strong, and blocked many shots. In the 2010–11 season, he scored his first goal for the Penguins.
Back to Phoenix and Other Teams
In June 2012, Michálek was traded back to the Coyotes. He played two more seasons with them. In 2015, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues. This happened even though he was recovering from a concussion at the time. After playing for the Blues, he signed with the Coyotes again in July 2015.
After the 2016 preseason, the Arizona Coyotes decided not to keep him on their main team. He later played a few games for them in March 2017.
Playing in the Czech Republic
On October 19, 2017, Zbyněk Michálek signed to play for Sparta Praha. This team is in the Czech Extraliga (ELH), which is the top ice hockey league in the Czech Republic.
International Play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Czech Republic |
||
| World Championships | ||
| Silver | 2006 Riga | |
| Bronze | 2011 Bratislava | |
Zbyněk Michálek also played for the Czech Republic. He played alongside his brother, Milan Michálek, in the 2010 Winter Olympics. He also won a bronze medal with the Czech Republic team at the 2011 IIHF World Championship.
Personal Life
Zbyněk Michálek is married to Helena. They have three children together: one son and two daughters. His younger brother, Milan Michálek, also had a successful career in the NHL.
See also
- Notable families in the NHL
