Wild acquires D Marek Zidlicky
Tuesday, 07.01.2008 / 1:22 PM
/ News
Minnesota Wild
SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired defenseman Marek Zidlicky (MAIR-ehk, zihd-LIH-kee) from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and F Ryan Jones.
MORE: ZIDLICKY PHOTO GALLERY |
ZIDLICKY VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
“Marek is a top offensive puck-moving defenseman who will add tempo to our lineup,” said Risebrough. “He will complement a defense that is becoming more mobile and skilled, which we anticipate will make our team as a whole more offensive.”
Zidlicky, 31 (2/3/77), has spent four seasons with Nashville, recording 175 points (35-140=175) and 299 penalty minutes in 307 games. He totaled a career-best 53 points (14-39=53) in 82 games in 2003-04, his first NHL season. Zidlicky led all Predators defensemen in points (5-38=43) and assists in 2007-08. Zidlicky has also played with Kladno of the Czech League and Helsinki of the Finnish League.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound native of Most, Czech Republic, has also played in 14 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, totaling six points (0-6=6). Zidlicky was the New York Rangers’ sixth-round pick (No. 176 overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He was a member of the Bronze medal-winning Czech Republic team at the 2006 Olympics, and also played for the Czech Republic in the 2008 World Championships.
Jones was Minnesota’s fourth-round pick (No. 111 overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He skated in four regular season and four playoff games with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League upon completing his career at the University of Miami-Ohio last season.
MORE: ZIDLICKY PHOTO GALLERY |
ZIDLICKY VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS “Marek is a top offensive puck-moving defenseman who will add tempo to our lineup,” said Risebrough. “He will complement a defense that is becoming more mobile and skilled, which we anticipate will make our team as a whole more offensive.”
Zidlicky, 31 (2/3/77), has spent four seasons with Nashville, recording 175 points (35-140=175) and 299 penalty minutes in 307 games. He totaled a career-best 53 points (14-39=53) in 82 games in 2003-04, his first NHL season. Zidlicky led all Predators defensemen in points (5-38=43) and assists in 2007-08. Zidlicky has also played with Kladno of the Czech League and Helsinki of the Finnish League.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound native of Most, Czech Republic, has also played in 14 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, totaling six points (0-6=6). Zidlicky was the New York Rangers’ sixth-round pick (No. 176 overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He was a member of the Bronze medal-winning Czech Republic team at the 2006 Olympics, and also played for the Czech Republic in the 2008 World Championships.
Jones was Minnesota’s fourth-round pick (No. 111 overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He skated in four regular season and four playoff games with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League upon completing his career at the University of Miami-Ohio last season.
