Milan Michalek

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Michálek scored a goal in his first NHL game before suffering a serious knee injury the next game, on 11 October 2003, tearing his right ACL. After knee surgery, he played in the American Hockey League (AHL) before injuring his knee again on 22 January. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he did not play anywhere, spending the time rehabilitating his knee. He played his first full season with the Sharks in 2005–06, scoring 17 goals and 35 points and earning the San Jose Sharks' PlayStation Rookie of the Year award. In 2006–07, he scored 26 goals and 66 points. He signed a six-year, $26 million contract extension through 2014 while still having one year left on his original rookie contract. In 2007–08, he played primarily on the Sharks' top line with Joe Thornton, scoring 24 goals and 55 points. On 12 September 2009, he was traded by the Sharks along with Jonathan Cheechoo and a second round pick in 2010 to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Dany Heatley and a fifth round pick in 2010. With the Senators, he scored his first career NHL hat-trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning on 15 October 2009. He suffered a concussion after colliding with teammate Erik Karlsson on 13 December 2011, causing him to miss five games; at the time he was leading the NHL in goals with 19. He was selected in fan balloting as a starter in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game and finished the season with a career high 35 goals. While injured during the 2015–16 season, he was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs on 9 February 2016, in a blockbuster nine-player trade focusing around Dion Phaneuf heading to Ottawa.

In Their Own Story

The SAP Center arena hummed with a tense silence as the third period ticked down, the score tied in overtime against the Anaheim Ducks. Milan Michalek skated toward the blue line, his breath visible in the cold air of the rink. He didn't look for the open lane; he looked for the opponent's weakness. With a sudden burst of speed, he intercepted a pass near the boards, absorbing a heavy hit from an opposing defenseman without losing possession. The crowd roared as he fed the puck to Joe Pavelski, setting up the play that would eventually send the Sharks into their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.

Reader's Guide

Milan Michálek is a Czech former professional ice hockey left winger. He played for the San Jose Sharks (2003–2009), Ottawa Senators (2009–2016), and Toronto Maple Leafs (2016 onward). He was drafted sixth overall by the Sharks in 2003. His older brother is Zbyněk Michálek, a defenceman who last played in the NHL within the Arizona Coyotes organization.

Did You Know?

• Michálek scored a goal in his first NHL game.
• He tore his right ACL in his second NHL game on 11 October 2003.
• He scored his first career NHL hat-trick on 15 October 2009 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• He led the NHL in goals with 19 at the time of a concussion on 13 December 2011.
• He finished the 2011–12 season with a career high 35 goals.