Lukáš Krajíček

Playing career

Lukáš Krajíček began his major junior career in the Ontario Hockey League with the Peterborough Petes. During his draft year, he put up 35 points, which led to the Florida Panthers selecting him 24th overall in the first round of the 2001 NHL entry draft. He spent two more seasons with the Petes, raising his production to 53 points over 52 games in 2002–03, his final junior campaign. In 2003–04, he split time between the Panthers and their AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.

The following season, due to the NHL lockout, he played the entire year with the Rampage. After returning to the NHL, he secured a full-time spot with Florida and recorded 16 points in 67 games. That summer, he was part of a major multi-player trade, moving alongside Roberto Luongo and a 2006 sixth-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Todd Bertuzzi, Alex Auld, and Bryan Allen. With Vancouver in 2006–07, he again posted 16 points, but his second season there was cut short by injury.

On October 6, 2008, he was traded with prospect Juraj Šimek to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Michel Ouellet and Shane O'Brien. After being released by Tampa Bay, he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers on January 31, 2010. On May 27, 2011, he joined HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL. There, he quickly established himself as a top defenceman, pairing with Dmitri Korobov on the first unit.

His reliable, smart defensive play earned him the title of best defenceman for the first week of the 2011–12 KHL season.