Jan Hejda

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Jan Hejda
Hejda with the Columbus Blue Jackets in December 2010
Born (1978-06-18) June 18, 1978 (age 47)
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
PositionDefence
ShotLeft
Played forSlavia Praha
CSKA Moscow
Khimik Moscow Oblast
Edmonton Oilers
Columbus Blue Jackets
Colorado Avalanche
National team Czech Republic
NHL draft106th overall, 2003
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career1997–2016

Jan Hejda (born June 18, 1978) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman who played with the Edmonton Oilers, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

[edit]

Hejda was originally selected in the fourth round, 106th overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres. He played six seasons with Slavia Praha of the Czech Extraliga, two seasons with CSKA Moscow of the Russian Superleague (RSL), and one season with Khimik Moscow Oblast, also of the RSL.

In July 2006, Hejda was traded to the Edmonton Oilers by the Sabres in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick.[1] He was then signed to his first NHL contract by the Oilers, to a one-year deal the same week.

Hejda scored his first NHL goal on January 8, 2007, against the Los Angeles Kings netminder Mathieu Garon. The Kings' Konstantin Pushkarev had scored his first NHL goal in the game's third period to send the game into overtime; Hejda's goal in overtime gave the Oilers their 2–1 win.[2]

In July 2007, Hejda signed a 1-year, $1 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He turned out to be one of the club's best defensemen the following season, ending with a team-record +20 plus-minus on a team that had never had anyone finish higher than +13 before.

He subsequently signed a 3-year deal worth $6 million on April 29, 2008.[3] After not scoring the previous season, Hejda scored three goals in addition to 18 assists during the 2008–09 season. He also played in three of the Blue Jackets' four playoff games in their opening-round series against the defending Stanley Cup champion and second-seeded Detroit Red Wings, Columbus' first-ever playoff appearance.

On April 1, 2011, in a 4–3 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, Hejda delivered an elbow to the head of Blackhawks’ forward Marcus Krüger. Although Krüger was not injured, the NHL gave Hejda a two-game suspension.[4] He ended the 2010–11 season with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 77 contests played.

Hejda during his tenure with the Avalanche in November 2014.

On the first day of free agency prior to the 2011–12 season, Hejda's emergence as a stay-at-home defenseman was rewarded when he was promptly signed to a four-year, $15 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche on July 1, 2011.[5] Hejda made his Avalanche debut on opening night in a 3–0 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on October 8, 2011.[6] He instantly established himself within the Avalanche blueline, playing in 81 games and leading all Avalanche players in ice time throughout the season. He tied first amongst the defenseman with 5 goals and featured in his 400th career NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets on February 19, 2012.[7]

In the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Hejda appeared in 46 games and finished second on the blueline in scoring with only 10 points. On February 26, 2013, Hejda matched a career high in posting 2 assists in a shootout defeat to the San Jose Sharks to reach the 100-career point mark in the NHL.[8]

In the 2013–14 season, Hejda helped the Avalanche rebound to reach the post-season, playing alongside defensive partner Erik Johnson, to form the team's top defensive pairing. He scored a career high 6 goals in 78 games and made his 500th regular season appearance against the San Jose Sharks on December 23, 2013.[9] In the last regular season game, Hejda suffered two broken fingers against the Anaheim Ducks on April 13, 2014. Although visibly impeding his game, Hejda appeared in all 7 post-season contests, leading the club with 18 blocked shots, against the Minnesota Wild.[10]

At the completion of his four-year contract with the Avalanche following the 2014–15 season, Hejda became a free agent over the summer. Unable to earn a contract offer from an NHL team, Hejda accepted a try-out invitation to attend the Chicago Blackhawks training camp on September 12, 2015.[11] Despite a solid camp with the Blackhawks, Hejda was not tendered a contract due to a crowded blueline and was released on September 27, 2015.[12] Two months into the 2015–16 season, looking for an opportunity to play, Hejda returned to the Columbus Blue Jackets fold in signing a professional try-out contract with AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters on December 7, 2015.[13] Hejda played in the American league for the first time since 2006, appearing in 11 scoreless games with the Monsters before he was released from his try-out on January 8, 2016.[14]

Personal life

[edit]

Hejda resides in Denver, Colorado and is married to his wife Tereza with whom he has two children, a daughter, Natalia, and son, Matheas. He coached his son's youth team at the 9280 Pond Hockey Tournament in Keystone.[15] He has the role of Director of Player Development of Europe/Western U.S. for Edge Sports Management.[16]

Career statistics

[edit]

Regular season and playoffs

[edit]
Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1997–98Slavia PrahaELH442575150006
1998–99Slavia PrahaELH3412338
1999–2000Slavia PrahaELH2612314
1999–2000Femax HavířovELH70226
1999–2000LiberecCZE.210004
2000–01Slavia PrahaELH38268701130312
2000–01KadaňCZE.281016
2001–02Slavia PrahaELH42981752911214
2002–03Slavia PrahaELH52611174417581312
2003–04CSKA MoscowRSL6016726
2004–05CSKA MoscowRSL602111359
2005–06Khimik Moscow OblastRSL503131658923524
2006–07Edmonton OilersNHL3918920
2006–07Hamilton BulldogsAHL503321
2007–08Columbus Blue JacketsNHL810131361
2008–09Columbus Blue JacketsNHL82318213830002
2009–10Columbus Blue JacketsNHL623101336
2010–11Columbus Blue JacketsNHL775152028
2011–12Colorado AvalancheNHL815141924
2012–13Colorado AvalancheNHL46191028
2013–14Colorado AvalancheNHL78611174070006
2014–15Colorado AvalancheNHL811121342
2015–16Lake Erie MonstersAHL110000
ELH totals24321365727542991844
RSL totals17062834141923524
NHL totals62725110135317100008

International

[edit]
Medal record
Representing  Czech Republic
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2005 Vienna
Silver medal – second place2006 Riga
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
1998Czech RepublicWJC4th70112
2003Czech RepublicWC4th90004
2004Czech RepublicWC5th71128
2005Czech RepublicWC1st place, gold medalist(s)90002
2006Czech RepublicWC2nd place, silver medalist(s)90004
2008Czech RepublicWC5th71010
2010Czech RepublicOG7th50004
2013Czech RepublicWC7th80110
2015Czech RepublicWC4th100222
Senior totals6424624

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sabres agree with Peters; deal Hejda's rights". ESPN. July 11, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  2. ^ "Oilers defeat Kings 2-1 in OT". ESPN. January 8, 2007. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  3. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets re-sign Hejda". Yahoo Sports. April 29, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  4. ^ Joe Yerdon (April 2, 2011). "NHL suspend Jan Hejda two games for elbowing Chicago's Marcus Kruger". nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "Avalanche signs Jan Hejda". Colorado Avalanche. July 1, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  6. ^ "Red Wings shut out Avalanche to open season". National Hockey League. October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  7. ^ "Jets trounce Avalanche 5-1". Colorado Avalanche. February 19, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  8. ^ "Avs tie game late, but Sharks take it in a shootout". National Hockey League. February 26, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  9. ^ "Sharks outlast Avs in Shootout". Colorado Avalanche. December 23, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  10. ^ "Hejda played with two broken fingers in Round 1 against the Wild". thescore.com. May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  11. ^ "Hejda to attend Blackhawks camp on try-out". ESPN. September 12, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  12. ^ "Chicago releases Jan Hejda from tryout". NBC Sports. September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  13. ^ "Jan Hejda signs AHL tryout contract with Monsters". Columbus Blue Jackets. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  14. ^ Custance, Craig (January 8, 2016). "Jan Hejda leaving monsters to consider next step". Twitter. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  15. ^ "Jan Hejda has good reason to try coaching". 9news.com. January 24, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "About us - ESM". edgesportmanagement.com. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
[edit]

    Jan Hejda
    Hejda with the Columbus Blue Jackets in December 2010
    Born (1978-06-18) June 18, 1978 (age 47)
    Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
    Weight209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
    PositionDefence
    ShotLeft
    Played forSlavia Praha
    CSKA Moscow
    Khimik Moscow Oblast
    Edmonton Oilers
    Columbus Blue Jackets
    Colorado Avalanche
    National team Czech Republic
    NHL draft106th overall, 2003
    Buffalo Sabres
    Playing career1997–2016

    Jan Hejda (born June 18, 1978) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman who played with the Edmonton Oilers, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL).

    Playing career

    Hejda was originally selected in the fourth round, 106th overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres. He played six seasons with Slavia Praha of the Czech Extraliga, two seasons with CSKA Moscow of the Russian Superleague (RSL), and one season with Khimik Moscow Oblast, also of the RSL.

    In July 2006, Hejda was traded to the Edmonton Oilers by the Sabres in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick.[1] He was then signed to his first NHL contract by the Oilers, to a one-year deal the same week.

    Hejda scored his first NHL goal on January 8, 2007, against the Los Angeles Kings netminder Mathieu Garon. The Kings' Konstantin Pushkarev had scored his first NHL goal in the game's third period to send the game into overtime; Hejda's goal in overtime gave the Oilers their 2–1 win.[2]

    In July 2007, Hejda signed a 1-year, $1 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He turned out to be one of the club's best defensemen the following season, ending with a team-record +20 plus-minus on a team that had never had anyone finish higher than +13 before.

    He subsequently signed a 3-year deal worth $6 million on April 29, 2008.[3] After not scoring the previous season, Hejda scored three goals in addition to 18 assists during the 2008–09 season. He also played in three of the Blue Jackets' four playoff games in their opening-round series against the defending Stanley Cup champion and second-seeded Detroit Red Wings, Columbus' first-ever playoff appearance.

    On April 1, 2011, in a 4–3 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, Hejda delivered an elbow to the head of Blackhawks’ forward Marcus Krüger. Although Krüger was not injured, the NHL gave Hejda a two-game suspension.[4] He ended the 2010–11 season with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 77 contests played.

    Hejda during his tenure with the Avalanche in November 2014.

    On the first day of free agency prior to the 2011–12 season, Hejda's emergence as a stay-at-home defenseman was rewarded when he was promptly signed to a four-year, $15 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche on July 1, 2011.[5] Hejda made his Avalanche debut on opening night in a 3–0 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on October 8, 2011.[6] He instantly established himself within the Avalanche blueline, playing in 81 games and leading all Avalanche players in ice time throughout the season. He tied first amongst the defenseman with 5 goals and featured in his 400th career NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets on February 19, 2012.[7]

    In the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Hejda appeared in 46 games and finished second on the blueline in scoring with only 10 points. On February 26, 2013, Hejda matched a career high in posting 2 assists in a shootout defeat to the San Jose Sharks to reach the 100-career point mark in the NHL.[8]

    In the 2013–14 season, Hejda helped the Avalanche rebound to reach the post-season, playing alongside defensive partner Erik Johnson, to form the team's top defensive pairing. He scored a career high 6 goals in 78 games and made his 500th regular season appearance against the San Jose Sharks on December 23, 2013.[9] In the last regular season game, Hejda suffered two broken fingers against the Anaheim Ducks on April 13, 2014. Although visibly impeding his game, Hejda appeared in all 7 post-season contests, leading the club with 18 blocked shots, against the Minnesota Wild.[10]

    At the completion of his four-year contract with the Avalanche following the 2014–15 season, Hejda became a free agent over the summer. Unable to earn a contract offer from an NHL team, Hejda accepted a try-out invitation to attend the Chicago Blackhawks training camp on September 12, 2015.[11] Despite a solid camp with the Blackhawks, Hejda was not tendered a contract due to a crowded blueline and was released on September 27, 2015.[12] Two months into the 2015–16 season, looking for an opportunity to play, Hejda returned to the Columbus Blue Jackets fold in signing a professional try-out contract with AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters on December 7, 2015.[13] Hejda played in the American league for the first time since 2006, appearing in 11 scoreless games with the Monsters before he was released from his try-out on January 8, 2016.[14]

    Personal life

    Hejda resides in Denver, Colorado and is married to his wife Tereza with whom he has two children, a daughter, Natalia, and son, Matheas. He coached his son's youth team at the 9280 Pond Hockey Tournament in Keystone.[15] He has the role of Director of Player Development of Europe/Western U.S. for Edge Sports Management.[16]

    Career statistics

    Regular season and playoffs

    Regular seasonPlayoffs
    SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
    1997–98Slavia PrahaELH442575150006
    1998–99Slavia PrahaELH3412338
    1999–2000Slavia PrahaELH2612314
    1999–2000Femax HavířovELH70226
    1999–2000LiberecCZE.210004
    2000–01Slavia PrahaELH38268701130312
    2000–01KadaňCZE.281016
    2001–02Slavia PrahaELH42981752911214
    2002–03Slavia PrahaELH52611174417581312
    2003–04CSKA MoscowRSL6016726
    2004–05CSKA MoscowRSL602111359
    2005–06Khimik Moscow OblastRSL503131658923524
    2006–07Edmonton OilersNHL3918920
    2006–07Hamilton BulldogsAHL503321
    2007–08Columbus Blue JacketsNHL810131361
    2008–09Columbus Blue JacketsNHL82318213830002
    2009–10Columbus Blue JacketsNHL623101336
    2010–11Columbus Blue JacketsNHL775152028
    2011–12Colorado AvalancheNHL815141924
    2012–13Colorado AvalancheNHL46191028
    2013–14Colorado AvalancheNHL78611174070006
    2014–15Colorado AvalancheNHL811121342
    2015–16Lake Erie MonstersAHL110000
    ELH totals24321365727542991844
    RSL totals17062834141923524
    NHL totals62725110135317100008

    International

    Medal record
    Representing  Czech Republic
    World Championships
    Gold medal – first place2005 Vienna
    Silver medal – second place2006 Riga
    YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
    1998Czech RepublicWJC4th70112
    2003Czech RepublicWC4th90004
    2004Czech RepublicWC5th71128
    2005Czech RepublicWC1st place, gold medalist(s)90002
    2006Czech RepublicWC2nd place, silver medalist(s)90004
    2008Czech RepublicWC5th71010
    2010Czech RepublicOG7th50004
    2013Czech RepublicWC7th80110
    2015Czech RepublicWC4th100222
    Senior totals6424624

    References

    1. ^ "Sabres agree with Peters; deal Hejda's rights". ESPN. July 11, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
    2. ^ "Oilers defeat Kings 2-1 in OT". ESPN. January 8, 2007. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
    3. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets re-sign Hejda". Yahoo Sports. April 29, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
    4. ^ Joe Yerdon (April 2, 2011). "NHL suspend Jan Hejda two games for elbowing Chicago's Marcus Kruger". nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
    5. ^ "Avalanche signs Jan Hejda". Colorado Avalanche. July 1, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
    6. ^ "Red Wings shut out Avalanche to open season". National Hockey League. October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
    7. ^ "Jets trounce Avalanche 5-1". Colorado Avalanche. February 19, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
    8. ^ "Avs tie game late, but Sharks take it in a shootout". National Hockey League. February 26, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
    9. ^ "Sharks outlast Avs in Shootout". Colorado Avalanche. December 23, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
    10. ^ "Hejda played with two broken fingers in Round 1 against the Wild". thescore.com. May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
    11. ^ "Hejda to attend Blackhawks camp on try-out". ESPN. September 12, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
    12. ^ "Chicago releases Jan Hejda from tryout". NBC Sports. September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
    13. ^ "Jan Hejda signs AHL tryout contract with Monsters". Columbus Blue Jackets. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
    14. ^ Custance, Craig (January 8, 2016). "Jan Hejda leaving monsters to consider next step". Twitter. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
    15. ^ "Jan Hejda has good reason to try coaching". 9news.com. January 24, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.[permanent dead link]
    16. ^ "About us - ESM". edgesportmanagement.com. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
    • Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
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