Michal Rozsíval

Michal Rozsíval (Czech pronunciation: [ˈmɪxal ˈrossiːval]; born 3 September 1978) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He joined the team in 2012, previously playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1999 until 2004, the New York Rangers from 2005 to 2011, and the Phoenix Coyotes in 2011–12. He is a two time Stanley Cup winner with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015.

Michal Rozsíval
Rozsíval with the Chicago Blackhawks in January 2013
Born (1978-09-03) 3 September 1978 (age 45)
Vlašim, Czechoslovakia
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
PositionDefence
ShotRight
Played forPittsburgh Penguins
Oceláři Třinec
Pardubice
New York Rangers
Phoenix Coyotes
Chicago Blackhawks
National team Czech Republic
NHL draft105th overall, 1996
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career1995–2017

Playing career

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Rozsíval with the New York Rangers in April 2006

Pittsburgh Penguins

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Rozsíval was drafted in the fourth round, 105th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. To adjust to North American play, he moved to Canada to play junior hockey with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Before making his debut with the Penguins, he played for the Syracuse Crunch in the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his NHL debut in the 1999–2000 season.

New York Rangers

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Rozsíval joined the New York Rangers after the 2004–05 NHL lockout as a free agent. On 29 April 2007, Rozsíval ended the Rangers' longest home playoff game since 1971 by scoring on Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller at 16:43 of the second overtime period. In the 2007–08 season, Rozsíval led all defensemen in shorthanded goals, with two.[1]

On 1 July 2008, Rozsíval signed a four-year contract extension with the Rangers worth a total of $20 million.[2] On 22 February 2009, Rozsíval switched his jersey number to 33 when former Rangers' player Harry Howell had his number 3 retired.

Phoenix Coyotes

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On 10 January 2011, Rozsíval was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for Wojtek Wolski.[3] He did not record any points during the Coyotes' run to the 2012 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. He was injured on a play just seconds before Dustin Penner's overtime series winner after a hit from Dustin Brown, and had to be assisted off the ice.

Chicago Blackhawks

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On 11 September 2012, Rozsíval was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Blackhawks on a one-year contract. The Blackhawks would win both the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup during the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, defeating the Boston Bruins 3–2 in six games during the finals. In Game 1 of that series, Rozsíval shot a puck that deflected off Dave Bolland and Andrew Shaw into the net for the game-winning triple-overtime goal. Rozsíval was credited with an assist. On 5 July 2013, Rozsíval signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Blackhawks.

Rozsíval as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks in December 2014

Rozsíval recorded one goal and twelve assists over 65 games during the 2014–15 season. He appeared in ten games during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but sustained a critical ankle injury during the Blackhawks’ second round series against the Minnesota Wild. The injury required surgery and between 12 and 16 weeks of rehabilitation.[4] The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup that year and Rozsíval’s name was engraved on the cup for a second time.

On 22 September 2015, Rozsíval signed a one-year contract extension with the Blackhawks.[5] He made his 2015–16 debut for the Blackhawks on 14 November against the St. Louis Blues.[6] In March 2016, the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominated Rozsival for the NHL's Masterton Trophy, which is awarded annually to the player who 'best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.'[7]


Medal record
Representing  Czech Republic
World Championships
2010 Cologne

At the end of the 2015–16 season, Rozsival signed another one-year contract extension with the Blackhawks. On 28 February 2017, Chicago agreed to extend Rozsival's contract through the 2017–2018 season.[8] In the Blackhawks’ penultimate 2016–17 regular season game, Nick Ritchie of the Anaheim Ducks punched Rozsíval in the face as retaliation for a cross-check he delivered to Ducks winger Corey Perry.[9] Rozsíval suffered a facial fracture that required surgical repairs. The NHL suspended Ritchie for two games (one regular season and one playoff game) on the basis that Ritchie's punch was unexpected and Rozsíval was not prepared to fight or defend himself.[10] Rozsíval missed the Blackhawks 2016–17 finale and the entire 2017 playoffs due to the injury. He was later diagnosed with post-concussion symptoms and was placed on the Blackhawks long-term disabled list before the 2017–18 NHL season.[11] He never played an NHL game again.[12]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1994–95HC Dukla JihlavaCZE U203181321
1995–96HC Dukla JihlavaCZE U2036347
1996–97Swift Current BroncosWHL6383139801006615
1997–98Swift Current BroncosWHL711455691221205533
1998–99Syracuse CrunchAHL493222572
1999–2000Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL75417214820004
2000–01Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL3014526
2000–01Wilkes–Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL29881632
2001–02Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL799202947
2002–03Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL53461040
2003–04Wilkes–Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL10002
2004–05HC Oceláři TřinecELH351101140
2004–05HC Moeller PardubiceELH16134301612334
2005–06New York RangersNHL82525309040118
2006–07New York RangersNHL80103040521034710
2007–08New York RangersNHL80132538801015610
2008–09New York RangersNHL76822305270004
2009–10New York RangersNHL823202378
2010–11New York RangersNHL323121522
2010–11Phoenix CoyotesNHL333362040002
2011–12Phoenix CoyotesNHL541121334150002
2012–13Chicago BlackhawksNHL2701212142304416
2013–14Chicago BlackhawksNHL4217832171568
2014–15Chicago BlackhawksNHL651121322100116
2015–16Chicago BlackhawksNHL51112133340002
2016–17Chicago BlackhawksNHL2212314
NHL totals963682413097041065202572

International

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YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
1996Czech RepublicEJC185th501110
2008Czech RepublicWC5th40000
2010Czech RepublicWC 90224
2014Czech RepublicOG6th50000
Junior totals501110
Senior totals180224

Awards and honours

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AwardYear
WHL
East First All-Star Team1998
Bill Hunter Trophy1998
CHL Second All-Star Team1998
NHL
NHL Plus/Minus Award (joint winner)2006
Stanley Cup (Chicago Blackhawks)2013, 2015

Personal life

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Rozsival and his wife Jana have two sons: Daniel (who currently plays for the Chicago Mission u16 team)[13] and Dominick.

References

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  1. ^ "NHL leaders in Shorthanded goals". hockeyreference.com. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Michal Rozsival player profile". Capgeek.com. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Rangers trade Michal Rozsival for Wojtek Wolski". New York Daily News. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Blackhawks' Rozsival has surgery on fractured ankle". NHL.com. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  5. ^ Gloria, Justin (22 September 2015). "NHL News: Chicago Blackhawks, Michal Rozsival Agree To One-Year Deal". International Business Times. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  6. ^ Hine, Chris; Kuc, Chris (15 November 2016). "Blackhawks' Michal Rozsival on his return: 'I just focused on playing'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Blackhawks: Michal Rozsival nominated for 2016 Masterton Trophy". CSN Chicago. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  8. ^ Hine, Chris. "Blackhawks sign Michal Rozsival, Jordin Tootoo to contract extensions". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Chicago's Michal Rozsival has facial surgery after Nick Ritchie punch". ESPN. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Nick Ritchie of Ducks suspended two games". NHL. Department of Player Safety. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Blackhawks' Michal Rozsival: Placed on LTIR". CBS Sports. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  12. ^ Michal Rozsival 2016-17 Game Log Hockey-Reference.com
  13. ^ "Daniel Rozsival". Elite Prospects.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Co-winner of the NHL Plus/Minus Award
(with Wade Redden)

2006
Succeeded by