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Milan MichalekCzech professional ice hockey player
Date of Birth: 07.12.1984
Country:  Czech |
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Biography of Milan Michalek
Milan Michalek is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on December 7, 1984, in Jindřichův Hradec, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic).
Early Career
Michalek was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as the sixth overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2003 season and scored his first goal shortly before suffering a serious knee injury on October 11, 2004, tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). After undergoing surgery, Michalek moved to the American Hockey League (AHL) games until he re-injured his knee on January 22. During the NHL lockout in 2004-2005, Michalek did not play anywhere and focused on recovering from his knee injury.
Professional Career
Michalek had his first full season with the Sharks in 2005-2006, scoring seventeen goals and earning thirty-five points. He was awarded the San Jose Sharks' Rookie of the Year that season. In the following 2006-2007 season, Michalek showcased his versatility as a speedy forward, scoring twenty-six goals and earning sixty-six points. In the off-season, he signed a six-year contract worth twenty-six million dollars, making it the longest and most expensive contract in Sharks' history.
During the 2007-2008 season, Michalek primarily played on the forward line with Joe Thornton. Although his numbers slightly declined with twenty-four goals and fifty-five points, Michalek's talent as a forward still made him the team's second-leading scorer (after Thornton).
On September 12, 2009, Michalek was traded to the Ottawa Senators along with Jonathan Cheechoo and a second-round draft pick in the 2010 draft. In exchange, the Sharks received forward Dany Heatley and a fifth-round draft pick.
Recent Career
In his first season with the Senators, Michalek recorded his first career hat trick on October 15, 2009, in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored two goals from close range and one through a power move. On December 1, he faced his former team, the San Jose Sharks, and managed to score two goals against them. However, the game ended in a victory for the Sharks as Michalek's goals were the only achievements for his team.
Throughout his career, Milan Michalek has established himself as a talented and dynamic player in the NHL, contributing both offensively and defensively. He continues to be a key player for the Ottawa Senators, showcasing his skills and contributing to the team's success.
