Ziggy Palffy is a former Slovak professional ice hockey player who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL) and international competitions. He began his career in Czechoslovakia, playing for Dukla Trenčín before moving to the Austrian Hockey League to play for EC VSV. In 1993, he was drafted by the New York Islanders in the first round, 26th overall.
Palffy played for the Islanders for six seasons, from 1993 to 1999, and was a key player on the team. He was known for his speed, agility, and scoring ability, and was a consistent point producer. In his second season with the Islanders, he scored 48 goals and 93 points, earning him a spot on the NHL First All-Star Team. He continued to be a top scorer for the team, and in his final season with the Islanders, he scored 87 points in 81 games.
In 1999, Palffy was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he played for four seasons. He continued to be a top scorer for the Kings, and in his first season with the team, he scored 40 goals and 85 points. He was also named to the NHL Second All-Star Team that season. Injuries limited his playing time in his final two seasons with the Kings, but he still managed to score at a point-per-game pace.
After leaving the Kings, Palffy played for the Pittsburgh Penguins for two seasons, from 2002 to 2004. He was again a top scorer for the team, and in his first season with the Penguins, he scored 41 goals and 85 points. Injuries again limited his playing time in his second season with the team, and he retired from the NHL in 2006.
Palffy also had a successful international career, representing Slovakia in numerous competitions. He played in the Olympics in 1994, 1998, and 2006, and was the team's leading scorer in the 1998 and 2006 tournaments. He also played in the World Championships, where he was a top scorer for Slovakia and helped the team win a bronze medal in 2003.
Overall, Palffy was a highly skilled and talented player who was known for his scoring ability and speed. He was a consistent point producer throughout his career, and was a key player on every team he played for. Despite injuries limiting his playing time in the later years of his career, he still managed to be a top scorer and was a respected player in the NHL and international competitions.
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