# Jan Hejda

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**Jan Hejda** (born June 18, 1978) is a Czech former professional [ice hockey](/source/Ice_hockey) [defenceman](/source/Defenceman) who played with the [Edmonton Oilers](/source/Edmonton_Oilers), the [Columbus Blue Jackets](/source/Columbus_Blue_Jackets) and the [Colorado Avalanche](/source/Colorado_Avalanche) in the [National Hockey League](/source/National_Hockey_League) (NHL).

## Playing career

Hejda was originally selected in the fourth round, 106th overall in the [2003 NHL entry draft](/source/2003_NHL_entry_draft) by the [Buffalo Sabres](/source/Buffalo_Sabres). He played six seasons with [Slavia Praha](/source/HC_Slavia_Praha) of the [Czech Extraliga](/source/Czech_Extraliga), two seasons with [CSKA Moscow](/source/HC_CSKA_Moscow) of the [Russian Superleague](/source/Russian_Superleague) (RSL), and one season with [Khimik Moscow Oblast](/source/HC_Atlant_Moscow_Oblast), also of the RSL.

In July 2006, Hejda was traded to the [Edmonton Oilers](/source/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](/source/Los_Angeles_Kings) netminder [Mathieu Garon](/source/Mathieu_Garon). The Kings' [Konstantin Pushkarev](/source/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](/source/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](/source/2008%E2%80%9309_NHL_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](/source/Detroit_Red_Wings), Columbus' first-ever playoff appearance.

On April 1, 2011, in a 4–3 shootout loss to the [Chicago Blackhawks](/source/Chicago_Blackhawks), Hejda delivered an elbow to the head of Blackhawks’ forward [Marcus Krüger](/source/Marcus_Kr%C3%BCger). Although Krüger was not injured, the NHL gave Hejda a two-game suspension.[4] He ended the [2010–11 season](/source/2010%E2%80%9311_NHL_season) with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 77 contests played.

On the first day of free agency prior to the [2011–12 season](/source/2011%E2%80%9312_NHL_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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Winnipeg_Jets) on February 19, 2012.[7]

In the [lockout](/source/2012_NHL_lockout)-shortened [2012–13 season](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_NHL_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](/source/San_Jose_Sharks) to reach the 100-career point mark in the NHL.[8]

In the [2013–14 season](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_NHL_season), Hejda helped the Avalanche rebound to reach the post-season, playing alongside defensive partner [Erik Johnson](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Minnesota_Wild).[10]

At the completion of his four-year contract with the Avalanche following the [2014–15 season](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_NHL_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](/source/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](/source/2015%E2%80%9316_NHL_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](/source/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](/source/Denver), [Colorado](/source/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] Hejda has volunteered time and donated money to those affiliated with [DAWG Nation Hockey Foundation](/source/DAWG_Nation_Hockey_Foundation), a nonprofit benefitting individuals and families within the ice hockey community encountering hardship. At one time, he was a member of the nonprofit's board of directors.[17]

## Career statistics

### Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1997–98 Slavia Praha ELH 44 2 5 7 51 5 0 0 0 6 1998–99 Slavia Praha ELH 34 1 2 3 38 — — — — — 1999–2000 Slavia Praha ELH 26 1 2 3 14 — — — — — 1999–2000 Femax Havířov ELH 7 0 2 2 6 — — — — — 1999–2000 Liberec CZE.2 1 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 2000–01 Slavia Praha ELH 38 2 6 8 70 11 3 0 3 12 2000–01 Kadaň CZE.2 8 1 0 1 6 — — — — — 2001–02 Slavia Praha ELH 42 9 8 17 52 9 1 1 2 14 2002–03 Slavia Praha ELH 52 6 11 17 44 17 5 8 13 12 2003–04 CSKA Moscow RSL 60 1 6 7 26 — — — — — 2004–05 CSKA Moscow RSL 60 2 11 13 59 — — — — — 2005–06 Khimik Moscow Oblast RSL 50 3 13 16 58 9 2 3 5 24 2006–07 Edmonton Oilers NHL 39 1 8 9 20 — — — — — 2006–07 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 5 0 3 3 21 — — — — — 2007–08 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 81 0 13 13 61 — — — — — 2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 82 3 18 21 38 3 0 0 0 2 2009–10 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 62 3 10 13 36 — — — — — 2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 77 5 15 20 28 — — — — — 2011–12 Colorado Avalanche NHL 81 5 14 19 24 — — — — — 2012–13 Colorado Avalanche NHL 46 1 9 10 28 — — — — — 2013–14 Colorado Avalanche NHL 78 6 11 17 40 7 0 0 0 6 2014–15 Colorado Avalanche NHL 81 1 12 13 42 — — — — — 2015–16 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 11 0 0 0 0 — — — — — ELH totals 243 21 36 57 275 42 9 9 18 44 RSL totals 170 6 28 34 141 9 2 3 5 24 NHL totals 627 25 110 135 317 10 0 0 0 8

### International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1998 Czech Republic WJC 4th 7 0 1 1 2 2003 Czech Republic WC 4th 9 0 0 0 4 2004 Czech Republic WC 5th 7 1 1 2 8 2005 Czech Republic WC 9 0 0 0 2 2006 Czech Republic WC 9 0 0 0 4 2008 Czech Republic WC 5th 7 1 0 1 0 2010 Czech Republic OG 7th 5 0 0 0 4 2013 Czech Republic WC 7th 8 0 1 1 0 2015 Czech Republic WC 4th 10 0 2 2 2 Senior totals 64 2 4 6 24

## References

1. ["Sabres agree with Peters; deal Hejda's rights"](https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2515848). [ESPN](/source/ESPN). 2006-07-11. Retrieved 2011-07-01.

1. ["Oilers defeat Kings 2-1 in OT"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171107165549/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270108008). [ESPN](/source/ESPN). 2007-01-08. Archived from [the original](https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap?gameId=270108008) on November 7, 2017. Retrieved 2008-10-21.

1. ["Columbus Blue Jackets re-sign Hejda"](https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-bluejackets-hejda&prov=ap&type=lgns). *[Yahoo Sports](/source/Yahoo_Sports)*. 2008-04-29. Retrieved 2008-10-21.

1. Joe Yerdon (April 2, 2011). ["NHL suspend Jan Hejda two games for elbowing Chicago's Marcus Kruger"](https://www.nbcsports.com/nhl/news/nhl-suspends-jan-hejda-two-games-for-elbowing-chicagos-marcus-kruger). *nbcsports.com*. NBC Sports. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

1. ["Avalanche signs Jan Hejda"](http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568073). [Colorado Avalanche](/source/Colorado_Avalanche). 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-07-01.

1. ["Red Wings shut out Avalanche to open season"](https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/col-vs-det/2011/10/08/2011020018). [National Hockey League](/source/National_Hockey_League). 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-10-08.

1. ["Jets trounce Avalanche 5-1"](https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/col-vs-wpg/2012/02/19/2011020882). [Colorado Avalanche](/source/Colorado_Avalanche). 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2012-02-21.

1. ["Avs tie game late, but Sharks take it in a shootout"](https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/col-vs-sjs/2013/02/26/2012020283). [National Hockey League](/source/National_Hockey_League). 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2013-02-26.

1. ["Sharks outlast Avs in Shootout"](https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/col-vs-sjs/2013/12/23/2013020566). [Colorado Avalanche](/source/Colorado_Avalanche). 2013-12-23. Retrieved 2013-12-23.

1. ["Hejda played with two broken fingers in Round 1 against the Wild"](https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/493456). *thescore.com*. 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2014-05-02.

1. ["Hejda to attend Blackhawks camp on try-out"](https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4690416/source-jan-hejda-to-attend-blackhawks-camp-on-tryout-agreement). [ESPN](/source/ESPN). 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-09-12.

1. ["Chicago releases Jan Hejda from tryout"](http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2015/09/27/chicago-releases-jan-hejda-from-tryout/). [NBC Sports](/source/NBC_Sports). 2015-09-27. Retrieved 2015-09-27.

1. ["Jan Hejda signs AHL tryout contract with Monsters"](http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=791458). [Columbus Blue Jackets](/source/Columbus_Blue_Jackets). 2015-12-07. Retrieved 2015-12-07.

1. Custance, Craig (2016-01-08). ["Jan Hejda leaving monsters to consider next step"](https://twitter.com/CraigCustance/status/685232702857986048). [Twitter](/source/Twitter). Retrieved 2016-01-08.

1. ["Jan Hejda has good reason to try coaching"](http://www.9news.com/sports/jan-hejda-has-good-reason-to-try-coaching/392243692). [9news.com](/source/9news.com). 2017-01-24. Retrieved 2017-01-24.[dead link]

1. ["About us - ESM"](http://edgesportsmanagement.com/about-us/). *edgesportmanagement.com*. 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2017-05-04.

1. Chambers, Mike (6 June 2020). ["Q&A with former Avalanche defenseman Jan Hejda"](https://www.denverpost.com/2020/06/06/avalanche-defenseman-jan-hejda-qa/). *The Denver Post*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jan Hejda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hejda) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hejda?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.