Name Zbynek Michalek Height 1.89 m Salary 3.2 million USD (2015) | Shoots Right NHL Draft Undrafted Role Ice hockey player Spouse Helena Michalek Siblings Milan Michalek | |
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Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) NHL teamFormer teams Arizona CoyotesMinnesota WildPittsburgh PenguinsSt. Louis Blues Current teams Czech Men\'s National Ice Hockey Team (#23 / Defenseman), Arizona Coyotes (#4 / Defenseman) Similar People Milan Michalek, Martin Hanzal, Antoine Vermette, Marek Zidlicky, Martin Erat | ||
Zbynek michalek ice bucket challenge
Zbyněk Michálek ( [ˈzbɪɲɛk ˈmɪxaːlɛk], born December 23, 1982) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing within the Arizona Coyotes organization of the National Hockey League (NHL). Michálek has also previously played in the NHL for the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins. He is the older brother of Toronto Maple Leafs winger Milan Michálek.
Contents
- Zbynek michalek ice bucket challenge
- How to pronounce zbynek michalek pittsburgh penguins nhl hockey player runforthecube
- Playing career
- International play
- Personal life
- References
How to pronounce zbynek michalek pittsburgh penguins nhl hockey player runforthecube
Playing career
Michálek played two seasons of major junior ice hockey for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He was not drafted in any NHL Entry Draft, but began playing professional hockey in 2002 with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL), winning a Calder Cup championship with the team in 2003.
Michálek made his NHL debut during the 2003–04 season with the Minnesota Wild, the Aeros' NHL affiliate. In 2005, Michálek was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Erik Westrum and Dustin Wood. He played five seasons for Phoenix, leading the League in blocked shots during the 2008–09 season. His excellent play continued into 2010, as he helped the Coyotes earn a Stanley Cup playoff berth for the first time since 2002.
On July 1, 2010, the first day of the NHL free agency period, Michálek signed a five-year, $20 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an unrestricted free agent. Prior to his signing, Michálek was described as "The Defenseman Every Team Wants" by AOL Fanhouse due to his strong defensive skills, durability and shot-blocking. In 2010–11, Michálek scored his first goal for the Penguins in a 3–1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on March 8, 2011.
On June 22, 2012, during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Michálek was traded back to Phoenix in exchange for Harrison Ruopp, goaltender Marc Cheverie and a 2012 third-round draft pick (81st overall). Michálek played two further seasons in the Coyotes organization, whereupon in 2014–15, as a pending unrestricted free agent, he was traded at the NHL trade deadline on March 2, 2015, to the St. Louis Blues, along with a conditional third-round pick in 2015, in exchange for prospect Maxim Letunov, despite Michálek recovering from a concussion at the time. On July 1, 2015 Michálek was re-signed by the Coyotes as a free agent.
International play
Michálek played for the Czech Republic, alongside his brother Milan Michálek, at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was also selected to represent the Czech Republic at the 2011 IIHF World Championship, where he won bronze alongside his brother.
Personal life
Michálek is married to Helena (born in 1979 in Bosnia and Herzegovina) and has one son, Andreas, who was born on June 23, 2009. Their daughter, Ella, was born April 30, 2012. Michálek's younger brother Milan currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
