In July 2006, Hejda was traded to the Edmonton Oilers by the Sabres in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick.[1] He was then signed to his first NHL contract by the Oilers, to a one-year deal the same week.
Hejda scored his first NHL goal on January 8, 2007, against the Los Angeles Kings netminder Mathieu Garon. The Kings' Konstantin Pushkarev had scored his first NHL goal in the game's third period to send the game into overtime; Hejda's goal in overtime gave the Oilers their 2–1 win.[2]
In July 2007, Hejda signed a 1-year, $1 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He turned out to be one of the club's best defensemen the following season, ending with a team-record +20 plus-minus on a team that had never had anyone finish higher than +13 before.
He subsequently signed a 3-year deal worth $6 million on April 29, 2008.[3] After not scoring the previous season, Hejda scored three goals in addition to 18 assists during the 2008–09 season. He also played in three of the Blue Jackets' four playoff games in their opening-round series against the defending Stanley Cup champion and second-seeded Detroit Red Wings, Columbus' first-ever playoff appearance.
On April 1, 2011, in a 4–3 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, Hejda delivered an elbow to the head of Blackhawks’ forward Marcus Krüger. Although Krüger was not injured, the NHL gave Hejda a two-game suspension.[4] He ended the 2010–11 season with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 77 contests played.
Hejda during his tenure with the Avalanche in November 2014.
On the first day of free agency prior to the 2011–12 season, Hejda's emergence as a stay-at-home defenseman was rewarded when he was promptly signed to a four-year, $15 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche on July 1, 2011.[5] Hejda made his Avalanche debut on opening night in a 3–0 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on October 8, 2011.[6] He instantly established himself within the Avalanche blueline, playing in 81 games and leading all Avalanche players in ice time throughout the season. He tied first amongst the defenseman with 5 goals and featured in his 400th career NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets on February 19, 2012.[7]
In the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Hejda appeared in 46 games and finished second on the blueline in scoring with only 10 points. On February 26, 2013, Hejda matched a career high in posting 2 assists in a shootout defeat to the San Jose Sharks to reach the 100-career point mark in the NHL.[8]
In the 2013–14 season, Hejda helped the Avalanche rebound to reach the post-season, playing alongside defensive partner Erik Johnson, to form the team's top defensive pairing. He scored a career high 6 goals in 78 games and made his 500th regular season appearance against the San Jose Sharks on December 23, 2013.[9] In the last regular season game, Hejda suffered two broken fingers against the Anaheim Ducks on April 13, 2014. Although visibly impeding his game, Hejda appeared in all 7 post-season contests, leading the club with 18 blocked shots, against the Minnesota Wild.[10]
At the completion of his four-year contract with the Avalanche following the 2014–15 season, Hejda became a free agent over the summer. Unable to earn a contract offer from an NHL team, Hejda accepted a try-out invitation to attend the Chicago Blackhawks training camp on September 12, 2015.[11] Despite a solid camp with the Blackhawks, Hejda was not tendered a contract due to a crowded blueline and was released on September 27, 2015.[12] Two months into the 2015–16 season, looking for an opportunity to play, Hejda returned to the Columbus Blue Jackets fold in signing a professional try-out contract with AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters on December 7, 2015.[13] Hejda played in the American league for the first time since 2006, appearing in 11 scoreless games with the Monsters before he was released from his try-out on January 8, 2016.[14]
Personal life
Hejda resides in Denver, Colorado and is married to his wife Tereza with whom he has two children, a daughter, Natalia, and son, Matheas. He coached his son's youth team at the 9280 Pond Hockey Tournament in Keystone.[15] He has the role of Director of Player Development of Europe/Western U.S. for Edge Sports Management.[16]
Joseph Jean-François Vinet Beauchemin is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted in the third round, 75th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, he spent most of his career playing for the Anaheim Ducks, winning a Stanley Cup in 2007.
Evan Brophey is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He played with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).
John Joseph LouisJohnson III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL) in his second stint with the team. He has previously played for the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks. In his prime, he was a capable two-way defenseman, combining physical prowess and offensive capability. Johnson won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.
David "Dave" Liffiton is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche.
Michael Steven Brown is an American former professional ice hockey right winger.
John Mitchell is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche. He was drafted in the fifth round, 158th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
Darcy Campbell is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
André Benoit is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played for several professional teams including the Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres and the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL), Södertälje SK, Tappara and Malmö Redhawks in Europe, as well as Spartak Moscow of the KHL.
Matthew David Duchene is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played in the NHL for the Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Nashville Predators. While with the Predators, he set a new franchise record for most goals scored in a single season.
Andrew Scott Bodnarchuk is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for EC Kassel Huskies of the DEL2. Bodnarchuk was born in Drumheller, Alberta.
The 2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the team's 12th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Blue Jackets' record of 29–46–7[note 1] was the worst record in the NHL for 2011–12 and the first time in franchise history they finished in last place. It also marked the third straight year that they missed the playoffs. Consequently, they had the best chance to receive the first overall selection in the 2012 NHL entry draft lottery, but lost out to the Edmonton Oilers and received the second pick instead.
Adam Clendening is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Clendening was raised in Wheatfield, New York. He was selected 36th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Ryan James Murray is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Murray was drafted second overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Murray won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.
Ryan Stanton is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing with HC Pustertal Wölfe in the ICE Hockey League (ICHEL).
Cody Goloubef is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played for SC Bern of the National League (NL). Goloubef was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round, 37th overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Goloubef was selected to represent Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
Stefan Matteau is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League (AHL). Matteau was born in Chicago, Illinois, but grew up in Blainville, Quebec.
Michael Paliotta is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. Paliotta was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 3rd round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Blackhawks and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Nicolas Meloche is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Meloche was selected 40th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Lukáš Sedlák is a Czech professional ice hockey forward for HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Sedlak was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Trent Vogelhuber is an American former professional ice hockey forward who most notably played in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected in the seventh round, 211th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He is currently serving as head coach of the Cleveland Monsters.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Czech Republic 
