Martin Škoula

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Position	Defenceman
Shoots	Left
Height Weight	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg)
NHL Team F. Teams	Minnesota Wild Dallas Stars Anaheim Ducks Colorado Avalanche
Nationality	Czech Republic
Born	October 28, 1979, Litoměřice, CS
NHL Draft	17th overall, 1998 Colorado Avalanche
Pro Career	1999 – present

Martin Škoula (born October 28, 1979 in Litoměřice, Czechoslovakia) is a professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected in the first round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, 17th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche.

After playing two seasons in the Czech Republic, Škoula came over to North America in 1997, playing for the Barrie Colts of the OHL. His size and offensive ability made him an instant success, and scouts praised his puck poise. After only one game in the American Hockey League, with the Hershey Bears, Škoula joined the Avalanche, despite being only twenty years old.

In 2001, Škoula was a part of the Avalanche team that won the Stanley Cup. The following season, he played for his native country at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Despite these successes and a solid statistical record, Škoula was often criticized by fans for poor defensive positioning and decisions, and offensive ability that failed to live up to expectations, most noticeably his puck poise. In February of 2004, Škoula was dealt to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. After playing only twenty games with the Ducks, Škoula left as an unrestricted free agent. He spent the lockout in the Czech Republic.

The engraved names of the 2000-01 Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche

In August of 2005, Škoula was signed by the Dallas Stars, where he spent less than a season, before being dealt at the trade deadline, March 9, 2006, to the Minnesota Wild.

[edit] Transactions

June 27, 1998 - Škoula drafted by Colorado
February 21, 2004 - Škoula traded by Colorado to Anaheim in exchange for Kurt Sauer and a 4th round draft pick (Raymond Macias)
August 3, 2005 - Škoula signs with Dallas.
March 9, 2006 - Škoula traded by the Dallas Stars along with Shawn Belle to the Minnesota Wild for Willie Mitchell and the Wild's second-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.