Playing career

After playing with TJ Vitkovice Jr. in the Czech junior league, Malík was drafted 72nd overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He played one season for HC Vítkovice of the Czech Extraliga before joining the Whalers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, in 1994-95. He played the better part of two seasons with the Falcons before earning a roster spot with the Whalers. Marek scored his first career NHL goal on October 19, 1996 against Jeff Reese and the New Jersey Devils in a 6-2 Whalers victory.

While the Whalers' franchise relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1997-98 to become the Carolina Hurricanes, Malík played in the Swedish Elitserien with the Malmö Redhawks. He returned to the NHL the following season with the Hurricanes. In 2001-02, Malík recorded a career-high 23 points. The following season, his ninth with the Whalers/Hurricanes franchise, Malík was traded to the Vancouver Canucks along with Darren Langdon in exchange for Jan Hlaváč and Harold Druken. He completed his second season with the Canucks, in 2003-04, as co-recipient of the NHL Plus/Minus Award (shared with Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning) with a +35 rating.

During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Malík returned to the Czech Extraliga to play for HC Vítkovice. With NHL play set to resume the following season, he signed a three-year deal with the New York Rangers.

On November 26, 2005, Malík scored on Washington Capitals netminder Olaf Kölzig to finish the then longest shootout in NHL history. The goal was described as a "circus shot" as Malík drew the puck towards the center of the net, put his stick between his legs, and shot high on Kölzig's stick side. The record for the longest shootout has since been broken. The Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers played a 20 round shootout on December 16, 2014.

With goalies Henrik Lundqvist and Kölzig dominant in net, the shootout went to 15 rounds. The teams had selected so many players to shoot that they were being forced to send out their weaker defencemen. Bryan Muir of the Caps scored in round 14, and Jason Strudwick answered for the Rangers to tie the score again. The next Caps shooter was stopped, which set the stage for Malík. He skated in on Kölzig, deked to his glove, pulled the puck back, put his stick through his legs, and flipped the puck in over Kölzig's blocker to score and win the game. He had not scored a goal during the season at the time. After the shot, he raised his arm and shrugged to the fans before being mobbed by his teammates. Former Rangers commentator John Davidson said, "Now I've seen it all! First Strudwick scores, then Malík wins a shootout with a shot between the legs. Oh Baby!" The goal was ranked as the play of the year by TSN's SportsCentre.

During his time with New York, Malík was criticized for his lack of physical play, despite his size, as well as his risky decision-making with the puck. These criticisms have been applied to Malík as early as his minor league days in Springfield.

On January 24, 2008, he was not at the game on Brian Leetch Night, even though it was team policy for players to be present at games. He also did not attend practice and his locker was empty for the game after he refused to shake hands with head coach Tom Renney after a victory in the Rangers' previous game.

On October 14, 2008, Malík signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On November 23, 2009, Malik signed a one-year contract with the Genève-Servette HC from the Swiss National League A.

On May 7, 2014, Malik announced his retirement.

Awards

• Awarded the Plus/Minus Award in 2004
• Bronze medal with the Czech Republic at the 2006 Winter Olympics

Personal life

Malík has a wife and two sons. Malik's teammates and coaches called him "Harry", a nickname he received during his rookie season in Hartford because (at that time) he reminded them of the title character from Harry and the Hendersons.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993-94	HC Vítkovice	Czech		41	3	4	7	0		—	—	—	—	—
1994-95	Hartford Whalers	NHL		1	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1994-95	Springfield Falcons	AHL		58	11	30	41	91		—	—	—	—	—
1995-96	Springfield Falcons	AHL		68	8	14	22	135		8	1	3	4	20
1995-96	Hartford Whalers	NHL		7	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Springfield Falcons	AHL		3	0	3	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Hartford Whalers	NHL		47	1	5	6	50		—	—	—	—	—
1997-98	Malmö Redhawks	SEL		37	1	5	6	21		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	Beast of New Haven	AHL		21	2	8	10	28		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	HC Vítkovice	Czech		1	1	0	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		52	2	9	11	36		4	0	0	0	4
1999-00	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		57	4	10	14	63		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		61	6	14	20	34		3	0	0	0	6
2001-02	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		82	4	19	23	88		23	0	3	3	18
2002-03	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		10	0	2	2	16		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		69	7	11	18	52		14	1	1	2	10
2003-04	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		78	3	16	19	45		7	0	0	0	10
2004-05	HC Vítkovice Steel	Czech		42	1	9	10	50		7	0	0	0	37
2005-06	New York Rangers	NHL		74	2	16	18	78		4	0	1	1	6
2006-07	New York Rangers	NHL		69	2	19	21	70		10	1	3	4	10
2007-08	New York Rangers	NHL		42	2	8	10	48		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		42	0	5	5	36		—	—	—	—	—
	NHL totals			691	33	135	168	620		65	2	8	10	64

International play

Marek Malík

Medal record
Representing Czech Republic
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
	2006	Turin

Malík has played for the Czech Republic in the following competitions:

• 1993 European Junior Championships
• 1994 World Junior Championships
• 1995 World Junior Championships
• 2004 World Cup
• 2006 Winter Olympics

[ Source: Wikipedia ]