Pavol Demitra Slovak hockey player, forward for the KHL club Lokomotiv and the Slovak national team. Date of Birth: 29.11.1974 Country: Japan

1. Biography of Pavol Demitra
2. Early Career
3. St. Louis Blues
4. Later Career
5. Vancouver Canucks and International Career

Biography of Pavol Demitra

Pavol Demitra was a Slovak ice hockey player, known for his time playing in the KHL for the club "Lokomotiv" and representing the Slovak national team. He wore the number 38 on his jersey.

Early Career

Demitra began his professional hockey career in the 1992-93 season, playing for the Czechoslovak league club "Dukla" from Trencin. His impressive performance caught the attention of NHL scouts, and he was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 9th round of the 1993 draft. Demitra spent most of the next three seasons playing for the Senators' AHL affiliate, the Prince Edward Island Senators.

St. Louis Blues

In 1996, Demitra terminated his contract with the Senators and soon found himself playing for the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference. His years with the Blues (1996-2004) were the best of his career. During the 1998-99 season, he participated in the All-Star Game for the first time after scoring 89 points in the regular season. In 2000, he was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy for his sportsmanship and high level of skill. Demitra currently holds the 5th place in the list of all-time scorers for the St. Louis Blues, with 493 points in 494 games.

Later Career

During the NHL lockout, Demitra returned to Slovakia and played one season for "Dukla." After the NHL resumed play, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings. In the following off-season, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Patrick O'Sullivan and a draft pick. In Minnesota, Demitra played alongside his fellow countryman Marian Gaborik, and together they scored over 250 points in two seasons. In October 2007, Demitra served as the captain of the Wild for a month.

Vancouver Canucks and International Career

Until July 2010, Pavol Demitra played for the Vancouver Canucks, where his career was hindered by injuries. He missed a significant portion of the 2009-10 season due to injury but returned in time to represent Slovakia in the Vancouver Olympics. On July 15, 2010, Demitra signed a one-year contract with the Yaroslavl club "Lokomotiv" in the KHL. Demitra also represented Czechoslovakia and later Slovakia in numerous international competitions, including the Olympics and World Championships. He won a bronze medal at the 2003 World Championship and was the top scorer and assisting player at the 2010 Olympics.