Meet the Slovak NHL Players Making a Name for Themselves

The Slovak hockey scene has been on the rise in recent years with several players making a name for themselves in the NHL. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to some of the top Slovak NHL players and tell you what makes them stand out.

Marian Gaborik

Marian Gaborik is a Slovak professional ice hockey player He currently plays for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Gaborik was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and he played nine seasons with the team. He is a three-time NHL All-Star and has represented Slovakia internationally on several occasions, winning a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Zdeno Chara

At 6’9”, Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara is one of the tallest players in the NHL. But he’s not just a big man; he’s a skilled player who has been named to six All-Star teams and helped lead the Bruins to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2011.

Born in Trencin, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia), Chara began playing hockey at a young age. He started his professional career in 1996 with HC Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Extraliga before joining the NHL’s New York Islanders in 1998. He spent three seasons with the Islanders before being traded to the Ottawa Senators, where he established himself as a top defenseman.

In 2006, Chara signed with the Bruins as a free agent and has been with the team ever since. He was named captain of the Bruins in 2006 and has served in that role for more than 10 years. He is currently the longest-serving captain in the NHL.

During his time with the Bruins, Chara has been one of the team’s most popular players. His big size and physical style of play make him a fan favorite, and he is respected for his leadership on and off the ice. In 2018, he was named one of 100 Greatest NHL players in history by The Hockey News.

Marian Hossa

Marian Hossa is a Slovak professional Ice Hockey winger for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Thrashers and Detroit Red Wings He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, having won the championship with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He also won the 1999 Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie.

Tomas Tatar

Tomas Tatar is a Slovak professional Ice hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was a first-round pick, 60th overall, of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and played eight seasons with the organization before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. Tatar has also represented Slovakia internationally on several occasions, including at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics

Andrej Sekera

Andrej Sekera is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Sekera has also played for the Carolina Hurricanes Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings. He was selected in the third round, 71st overall, by the Hurricanes in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft

Sekera was born in Bojnice, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). He began playing professionally with HC Dukla Trencin of the Slovak Extraliga in 2003. Sekera moved to North America in 2005 to play for the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes during the 2006–07 season.

Sekera has represented Slovakia at several international tournaments. He won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2012 World Championships

Peter Stastny

Peter Stastny is a Slovak professional ice hockey player. He is currently the captain of HC Slovan Bratislava of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has previously played for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is the second most productive NHL player from Slovakia in terms of points scored behind only Marian Hossa.

Dominik Hasek

Dominik Hasek is a Slovak former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is nicknamed “the Dominator”, a reference to his superb style of play. Hasek had an unorthodox yet effective butterfly style that flummoxed even the most skilled shooters. He retired in 2008 after a 20-year career, which included ten years with the Buffalo Sabres and six seasons with the Detroit Red Wings Hasek is widely regarded as one of the best goaltenders of all time, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.

Jaroslav Halak

Jaroslav Halak is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Halak was drafted 271st overall in the ninth round by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft He has also played for the St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders

Pavol Demitra

Throughout the history of the NHL, there have been a number of great Slovak players. In recent years however, there has been a resurgence of Slovak players making a name for themselves in the league. One of these players is Pavol Demitra.

Demitra was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 1993 and played for them for two seasons. He then moved to the St. Louis Blues where he played for six seasons. In 2001, Demitra was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he spent one season. He then moved to the Vancouver Canucks where he spent four seasons.

Demitra was an All-Star in 2002 and 2003 and was a member of Team Slovakia at the 2006 Winter Olympics where they won a bronze medal. He also represented Slovakia at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

During his time in the NHL, Demitra amassed 761 points in 961 games. He retired from the NHL in 2010 and now serves as a hockey analyst on Slovak television.

Jozef Stumpel

Jozef Stümpel (born October 13, 1973) is a Slovak former professional ice hockey player He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2nd round (36th overall) of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Stümpel also played for the Boston Bruins Atlanta Thrashers Florida Panthers Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks before returning to Europe to play out his career.