Martin Straka
Martin Straka was drafted 19th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, and has played for several teams throughout his 13 year NHL career. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators in April of 1995 for Norm McIver and Troy Murray. The following season, he was traded again. Straka, along with Don Beaupre and former #1 overall pick Bryan Berard was traded to the New York Islanders for Damian Rhodes and Wade Redden. He would be placed on waivers and claimed by the Florida Panthers in March of 1996. Florida would not re-sign Straka after the 1995-96 season, which made him an unrestricted free agent. He would later return to the Pittsburgh Penguins in August of 1997. In November of 2003, in a cost-cutting move, the Penguins would deal Straka to the Los Angeles Kings for Russian prospect Sergei Anshakov and defenseman Martin Skrbak. Straka would later sign as a free agent by the Rangers in August of 2005. On January 17, 2007, despite reports that he was considering retirement, Straka signed a contract extension through the 2007-08 season.
Straka's best season came in the 2000-2001 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored 27 goals and added 68 assists for 95 total points. He was a part of the gold winning olympic team at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. He also won gold in the 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in Vienna.
Straka has been very successful on the Rangers, having scored at least 70 points in the past two seasons. In 2006-2007, he scored 29 goals and added 41 assists for 70 points. The season before that, he scored 79 points.
Straka is probably best suited for a role on the power play and as a second line forward, as injuries have worn his body down. In his mid-30s, Straka still has the speed to overcome his relatively small stature, but he may experience some difficulty in physical situations. He sometimes lacks the stamina to produce late into the season, but still has a hunger for the game.
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