Roman Polák

Roman Polák (born 28 April 1986) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman. Polák was drafted in the sixth round, 180th overall, at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, the organization with which he spent his entire NHL career prior to joining the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014. He rejoined the Maple Leafs in 2016, after a brief stint with the San Jose Sharks. In the 2018 offseason, Polák signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars.[1] Polák began and ended his career in his native Czech Republic with HC Vítkovice of the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

Roman Polák
Polák with the St. Louis Blues in 2011
Born (1986-04-28) 28 April 1986
Ostrava, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Played for HC Vítkovice
St. Louis Blues
Toronto Maple Leafs
San Jose Sharks
Dallas Stars
National team  Czech Republic
NHL Draft 180th overall, 2004
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 2005–2022

Playing career

Polák was drafted in the sixth round, 180th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. After playing in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the 2004–05 season with the Kootenay Ice, he returned to his native Czech Republic to make his professional debut with HC Vítkovice of the Czech Extraliga.

Polak with the Blues in a game against the Washington Capitals during the 2010–11 season

In the 2006–07 season, Polák returned to North America and appeared in his first NHL game on 9 October 2006, against the Anaheim Ducks. After two seasons between the Blues and their affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, Polák made the starting roster for the Blues in the 2008–09 season.

Polák scored his first NHL goal in his 57th game on 20 December 2008, against the Minnesota Wild.[2] He finished the season with 15 points in 69 games and was re-signed by the Blues to a two-year contract on 24 July 2009.[3] Emerging as a mainstay in the Blues defense and establishing himself as one of the Blues' top defensive-defensemen over the next two seasons, Polák was re-signed by St. Louis to a five-year contract extension on 2 June 2011.[4]

On 28 June 2014, Polák was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Carl Gunnarsson and a 2014 fourth-round draft pick (Ville Husso).[5] During his first season in Toronto, Polák set a career-high in goals scored (5).

On 22 February 2016, Polák was traded to the San Jose Sharks along with Nick Spaling in exchange for second-round draft picks in 2017 and 2018, as well as forward Raffi Torres.[6] He was part of a Sharks team that made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, but came up short to the Pittsburgh Penguins, losing 4 games to 2.

On 2 July 2016, Polák returned to the Maple Leafs on a one-year contract.[7] Many considered it a strategic signing, with the rebuilding team anticipated to once again trade Polák for assets at the trade deadline. However the Maple Leafs exceeded expectations and found themselves within the playoff race come trade deadline, leading to Polák remaining with the team in a bid to make the post-season. On 23 March 2017, Polák was suspended for the first time in his career for two games as the result of a hit from behind on Columbus Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand a few nights earlier.[8] Once he returned, Polák assisted the Maple Leafs in clinching a playoff spot; the first time the team has achieved the feat in a full season since 2004. In game two of the first round vs the Washington Capitals, he was the victim of a knee on knee hit from defenceman Brooks Orpik, which resulted in Polák sustaining a lower body injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the post-season.[9]

On 14 September 2017, Polák signed a professional tryout contract with the hopes to continue with the Toronto Maple Leafs.[10] He began the 2017–18 as a free agent but remained training with the Maple Leafs. On 22 October 2017, Polák signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract for his fourth season with the Maple Leafs.[11]

On 1 July 2018, Polák signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Dallas Stars.[1] In the 2018–19 season, Polák added a physical presence to the Stars third pairing on the blueline. In 77 games he registered 1 goal and 9 points. In the post-season, Polák had one assist in 13 games to help the Stars advance to the Western Conference Second Round, which they lost in seven games to former club, the St. Louis Blues.

On 6 June 2019, Polák opted to continue his tenure in Dallas, agreeing to a one-year $1.75 million extension.[12] In the 2019–20 season, Polák added veteran depth experience to the Stars' blueline, adding 4 assists through 41 games before the season was suspended due to COVID-19. During the NHL's hiatus, Polák agreed to a three-year contract to return to his native Czech Republic with original club, HC Vítkovice, beginning from the 2020–21 season on 15 June 2020.[13] On 11 July 2020, Polák was not selected on the Stars' training camp roster, opting out in the NHL's Return to Play scheme.[14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 HC Sareza Ostrava CZE U18 13 5 12 17 26 — — — — —
2002–03 HC Sareza Ostrava CZE U20 23 0 1 1 14 — — — — —
2003–04 HC Vítkovice CZE U20 52 4 11 15 44 — — — — —
2004–05 Kootenay Ice WHL 65 5 18 23 85 9 0 0 0 6
2005–06 HC Vítkovice Steel CZE U20 1 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2005–06 HC Vítkovice Steel ELH 37 0 1 1 16 6 0 0 0 6
2006–07 St. Louis Blues NHL 19 0 0 0 6 — — — — —
2006–07 Peoria Rivermen AHL 53 4 8 12 66 — — — — —
2007–08 Peoria Rivermen AHL 34 0 7 7 33 — — — — —
2007–08 St. Louis Blues NHL 6 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2008–09 St. Louis Blues NHL 69 1 14 15 45 4 0 0 0 0
2009–10 St. Louis Blues NHL 78 4 17 21 59 — — — — —
2010–11 St. Louis Blues NHL 55 3 9 12 33 — — — — —
2011–12 St. Louis Blues NHL 77 0 11 11 57 9 0 0 0 19
2012–13 HC Vítkovice Steel ELH 22 2 6 8 79 — — — — —
2012–13 St. Louis Blues NHL 48 1 5 6 48 6 0 1 1 2
2013–14 St. Louis Blues NHL 72 4 9 13 71 6 0 1 1 4
2014–15 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 56 5 4 9 48 — — — — —
2015–16 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 55 1 12 13 56 — — — — —
2015–16 San Jose Sharks NHL 24 0 3 3 16 24 0 0 0 15
2016–17 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 75 4 7 11 65 2 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 54 2 10 12 46 7 0 1 1 4
2018–19 Dallas Stars NHL 77 1 8 9 69 13 0 1 1 10
2019–20 Dallas Stars NHL 41 0 4 4 24 — — — — —
2020–21 HC Vítkovice Ridera ELH 36 2 5 7 75 5 0 0 0 2
2021–22 HC Vítkovice Ridera ELH 51 1 7 8 65 3 0 1 1 0
ELH totals 146 5 19 24 235 14 0 1 1 8
NHL totals 806 26 114 140 643 71 0 4 4 54

International
Medal record
Representing  Czech Republic
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place2005 North Dakota
IIHF U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place2004 Minsk
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2004 Czech Republic WJC18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 0 0 0 8
2005 Czech Republic WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 0 2 2 4
2006 Czech Republic WJC 6th 6 0 2 2 6
2009 Czech Republic WC 6th 7 0 1 1 6
2010 Czech Republic OG 7th 5 0 0 0 4
2014 Czech Republic WC 4th 1 0 0 0 0
2016 Czech Republic WCH 6th 3 0 1 1 0
Junior totals 20 0 4 4 18
Senior totals 16 0 2 2 10

References
  1. "Stars sign defensmean Roman Polak to one-year contract". Dallas Stars. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  2. St. Louis Blues - Recap: Minnesota @ St. Louis, 20 December 2008 Archived 24 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "St. Louis Blues re-sign defenseman Roman Polak". Stltoday.com. 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  4. "Polak signs contract extension". St. Louis Blues. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  5. "Leafs Swap Gunnarsson For Roman Polak; Select Valiev In 3rd Round". Hockeybuzz.com. 28 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  6. "Maple Leafs complete trade with San Jose". Toronto Maple Leafs. 22 February 2016.
  7. "Maple Leafs sign free agent Roman Polak". Toronto Maple Leafs. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  8. "Maple Leafs' Polak barred 2 games for Oliver Bjorkstrand hit". CBC Sports. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  9. "Leafs' Roman Polak out for remainder of playoffs". Sportsnet. 16 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  10. "Maple Leafs sign free agent Roman Polak to pro tryout deal - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  11. "Maple Leafs agree to terms with Roman Polak". Toronto Maple Leafs. 22 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  12. "Polak signs one-year contract with Stars". Dallas Stars. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  13. "Signed! Roman Polak agrees to contract" (in Czech). HC Vítkovice. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  14. "List of player to opt out of Return to play". The Sports Network. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
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