Milan Michalek is a retired Czech professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on December 7, 1984, in Jindrichuv Hradec, Czechoslovakia. Michalek began his professional career in the Czech Extraliga with HC Ceske Budejovice in 2001. He played for the team for two seasons before being drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
Michalek made his NHL debut with the Sharks in the 2003-04 season and played for the team until 2009. During his time with the Sharks, he established himself as a reliable two-way forward and a penalty killer. He also showed flashes of offensive brilliance, scoring a career-high 26 goals in the 2006-07 season. Michalek was traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2009 as part of a package deal that brought Dany Heatley to San Jose.
Michalek played for the Senators for six seasons and was a key player for the team during his tenure. He was known for his speed, tenacity, and ability to score clutch goals. He scored a career-high 35 goals in the 2011-12 season and helped the Senators reach the playoffs that year. Michalek was also a member of the Czech Republic national team and represented his country in several international tournaments, including the Olympics.
In 2015, Michalek was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of a multi-player deal. He played for the Maple Leafs for one season before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes in 2016. Michalek played his final NHL season with the Coyotes in 2016-17 before retiring from professional hockey.
Throughout his NHL career, Michalek played in 747 games and scored 186 goals and 202 assists for a total of 388 points. He was known for his work ethic, leadership, and dedication to the game. Michalek was also a fan favorite and was respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
In addition to his NHL career, Michalek also played in the Czech Extraliga during the NHL lockout in 2012-13 and in the KHL for HC Slovan Bratislava during the 2017-18 season. He retired from professional hockey in 2018 and currently resides in the Czech Republic with his family.
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