Milan Hejduk is a retired Czech professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Avalanche for his entire career. He was known for his speed, agility, and scoring ability, and was a key player in the Avalanche's success during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Hejduk began his professional career in the Czech Extraliga, playing for HC Pardubice. He was drafted by the Avalanche in the fourth round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, but did not join the team until the 1998-99 season. He quickly established himself as a top scorer, recording 36 goals and 29 assists in his rookie season and winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.
Over the course of his career, Hejduk played in 1,020 regular season games, scoring 375 goals and 430 assists for a total of 805 points. He was a six-time 30-goal scorer and a four-time 40-goal scorer, and was named to the NHL All-Star Game three times. He also played in 118 playoff games, scoring 34 goals and 43 assists for a total of 77 points.
Hejduk was a key player in the Avalanche's Stanley Cup championship in 2001, scoring 10 goals and 7 assists in 23 playoff games. He also helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 and 2004, although they were unable to win the championship in those years.
Hejduk was known for his consistency and durability, playing in at least 70 games in 11 of his 14 NHL seasons. He was also a respected leader in the Avalanche locker room, serving as an alternate captain for many years and as the team's captain during the 2011-12 season.
Hejduk retired from professional hockey in 2013, having spent his entire career with the Avalanche. He was honored by the team with a jersey retirement ceremony in 2018, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
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