Playing career

Hejda was originally selected in the 4th round, 106th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. He played six seasons with HC Slavia Praha of the Czech Extraliga, two seasons with HC CSKA Moscow of the Russian Super League, and one season with Khimik Moscow Oblast, also of the Russian Super League.

In July 2006, Hejda was traded to the Edmonton Oilers by the Sabres in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick. He was then signed to first NHL contract by the Oilers with a 2-year deal in 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.

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 was subsequently signed a 3-year deal worth $6 million on April 29, 2008. 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 Detroit Red Wings, Columbus' first ever playoff appearance.

Hejda was hit in the head by Raffi Torres from an elbow. For this act Torres was fined $2,500.

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. Hejda made his Avalanche debut on opening night in a 3-0 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on October 8, 2011. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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. Two months into the 2015-16 season, Hejda looking for an opportunity to play, 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. 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.

Personal life

Hejda is married to Tereza, with whom he has two children, a daughter, Natalie and a son, Matheas.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997-98	HC Slavia Praha	CZE		44	2	5	7	51		5	0	0	0	6
1998-99	HC Slavia Praha	CZE		34	1	2	3	38		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	HC Femax Havířov	CZE		7	0	2	2	6		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	HC Slavia Praha	CZE		26	1	2	3	14		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	HC Slavia Praha	CZE		38	2	6	8	70		11	3	0	3	12
2001-02	HC Slavia Praha	CZE		42	9	8	17	52		9	1	1	2	14
2002-03	HC Slavia Praha	CZE		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		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				627	25	110	135	317		10	0	0	0	8

International

Medal record
Representing Czech Republic
World Championships
	2005 Vienna
	2006 Riga

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003	Czech Republic	WC	4th		9	0	0	0	4
2004	Czech Republic	WC	5th		7	1	1	2	8
2005	Czech Republic	WC	01 !		9	0	0	0	2
2006	Czech Republic	WC	02 !		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

[ Source: Wikipedia ]