Marek Židlický
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Defense |
| Shoots | Right |
| Height Weight |
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 190 lb (86 kg) |
| NHL Team | Nashville Predators |
| Nationality |  Czech Republic |
| Born | February 3, 1977, Most, CZE |
| NHL Draft | 176th overall, 2001 New York Rangers |
| Pro Career | 2003 – present |
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Ice hockey | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 2006 Turin | Ice hockey | |
Marek Židlický ['marɛk 'ʒɪdlɪʦki:] (Born February 3, 1977, in Most, Czechoslovakia), is a professional ice hockey player.
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[edit] Playing career
Marek Židlický was selected 176th overall, in the 6th round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft on June 24, 2001. He was selected as the 6th choice of the New York Rangers. He plays for the Nashville Predators.
Židlický had a very strong 2000-2001 season with HIFK of the Finnish Elite League ranking 3rd on his team in assists (25) and tied for second on his team in points (37). He also led the league in points by a defenseman. This was enough for the Rangers to draft him in the NHL entry draft that next summer.
However, Židlický and the Rangers could never agree to contract terms. The major sticking point was that Židlický wanted a one-way contract which would pay him the same amount of money regardless of whether he was playing in the NHL or the AHL. He wanted this contract because he was worried about the depth of the Rangers and did not want to spend too much time in the minor leagues. However, the Rangers would not agree to such a deal and only offered a two-way contract, one that would pay him at a lower rate if he played in the AHL. Because of these contract differences, Židlický opted to stay in Finland and continue playing for HIFK.
Židlický had two more very strong years for HIFK leading the team in points in 2001-2002 with 40 points. The next season he tied for the team lead in points with 47.
Realizing that Židlický would not come to the United States to play without a one-way contract and unwilling to give him one, the Rangers traded him, along with Rem Murray and Tomas Kloucek, for Mike Dunham on December 12, 2002 to the Nashville Predators.
Židlický joined the Predators in Nashville for the 2003-04 NHL season, which proved to be a very successful season for Židlický. He recorded his first NHL point in his NHL debut on October 10, 2003 in a 3-1 win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He scored his first NHL goal the next day in the second period of a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. He became the first Predator to play all 82 games in his first season in the league (he was not considered a rookie because of his age).
Unfortunately for Židlický and Predators fans, he was injured when he was checked in the opening minutes of the first ever Nashville Predators playoff game against the Detroit Red Wings. He suffered a concussion and was unable to return for any more games in the playoff series.
During the 2004-05 NHL lockout Židlický returned to play for HIFK Helsinki.
For the early part of Żidlický's career, his last name was pronounced (Zid-lits-key). In the early part of the 2005-06 season, his name began to be pronounced (Zhid-lit-skee).
Zidlicky was selected to the bronze medal winning 2006 Czech Republic Olympic hockey squad.
On May 8, 2006, it was announced that the Predators and Zidlicky had agreed on terms for a new contract. The length of the contract will be 4 years, worth approximately $13.5 million.
[edit] Records
- Nashville Predators franchise record for points by a defenseman in a season (53).
- Nashville Predators franchise record for assists in a game (5).
- Nashville Predators franchise record for power play points in a season (35).
