Martin Erat
Encyclopedia
Martin Erat (ˈmarcɪn ˈɛrat) (born August 28, 1981) is a Czech
professional ice hockey
player currently playing for the Nashville Predators
of the National Hockey League
(NHL).
. He was selected as the 12th choice of the Nashville Predators.
Erat made a splash in his NHL rookie year (2001–2002) as a member of the "vowel line" which consisted himself on left wing, Vladimír Országh
on right wing, and Denis Arkhipov
at center. That year he set a Nashville rookie record for games played (80), assists (24), and points (33).
His first National Hockey League
point was a game winning goal against the Calgary Flames
on October 11, 2001. His first NHL playoff point was an assist in the 2004 Western Conference Quarterfinals in a 2–1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings
on January 19, 2004.
Erat struggled during his sophomore season (2002–03) and spent the majority of the season with the Predator's minor league affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals
of the American Hockey League
. After changing his number from 19 to 10 in the offseason, his play improved however in his third season (2003–04). He had career highs with goals (16), assists (33), and points (49). He also ranked second on the team with a +10 rating.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Erat played for HC Zlín
of the Czech Extraliga
, where he finished eighth in the league in scoring with 20 goals and 23 assists in 48 games.
In 2005–06, Erat scored a career high 20 goals in his fourth season with the Nashville Predators, while tallying 49 points. He also played for the Czech National Team at the Olympics in Turin
, where he helped the team secure a bronze medal.
During the 2006–07 NHL season, Erat emerged as a legitimate first line player, tallying 57 points in only 68 games. Most often, Erat teamed with Paul Kariya
and David Legwand
to form the team's top unit. Erat missed the final 5 weeks of the season with a torn MCL.
Once again playing for Nashville in 2007–08, Erat posted a career high 23 goals, and added 34 assists to once again reach the 57 point plateau.
He is also known for his wrist shot
and his speed.
Erat played for the Czech Republic at the World Junior Championships in 2001. He helped the team to win the gold medal. In 2006, Erat played for the bronze medal winning Czech national team at the Turin Olympics. In the same year, Erat was a member of the silver medal winning team from the IIHF World Championships in Riga, Latvia.
Following the 2007–08 season, Erat signed a 7 year, $31.5 million dollar contract with the Predators.
Martin has an older brother Roman Erat, who also plays hockey, but not at an NHL level.
He has two career hat tricks, the first against the Edmonton Oilers
, and the second versus the Vancouver Canucks on December 8, 2009.
Played for the Czech Republic in:
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player currently playing for the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL).
Career
Erat was selected 191st overall, in the 7th round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft1999 NHL Entry Draft
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. According to Sports Illustrated and other sports news agencies, at the time the 1999 draft was considered one of the deepest in talent in years, headed by Patrik Stefan and the Sedin twins. However, the...
. He was selected as the 12th choice of the Nashville Predators.
Erat made a splash in his NHL rookie year (2001–2002) as a member of the "vowel line" which consisted himself on left wing, Vladimír Országh
Vladimir Orszagh
- Playing career :Országh was drafted into the National Hockey League in 1995 by the New York Islanders in the fifth round and he has been playing in the NHL since 1997...
on right wing, and Denis Arkhipov
Denis Arkhipov
Denis Mikhailovich Arkhipov is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:Arkhipov was selected 60th overall in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft...
at center. That year he set a Nashville rookie record for games played (80), assists (24), and points (33).
His first National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
point was a game winning goal against the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
on October 11, 2001. His first NHL playoff point was an assist in the 2004 Western Conference Quarterfinals in a 2–1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
on January 19, 2004.
Erat struggled during his sophomore season (2002–03) and spent the majority of the season with the Predator's minor league affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. After changing his number from 19 to 10 in the offseason, his play improved however in his third season (2003–04). He had career highs with goals (16), assists (33), and points (49). He also ranked second on the team with a +10 rating.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Erat played for HC Zlín
HC Zlín
PSG Zlín is an ice hockey team in the Czech Extraliga. Their home arena is Zimní stadion Luďka Čajky in Zlín. They won the Extraliga in 2004. They were formerly known as HC Hamé Zlín.- Club names :* 1928 - SK Baťa Zlín* 1945 - ZK Baťa Zlín...
of the Czech Extraliga
Czech Extraliga
The Czech Extraliga is the highest-level ice hockey league in the Czech Republic. As of 2009, it is ranked by the IIHF as the third strongest league in Europe....
, where he finished eighth in the league in scoring with 20 goals and 23 assists in 48 games.
In 2005–06, Erat scored a career high 20 goals in his fourth season with the Nashville Predators, while tallying 49 points. He also played for the Czech National Team at the Olympics in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, where he helped the team secure a bronze medal.
During the 2006–07 NHL season, Erat emerged as a legitimate first line player, tallying 57 points in only 68 games. Most often, Erat teamed with Paul Kariya
Paul Kariya
Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League . Known as a skilled and fast-skating offensive player, he played in the NHL for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and St...
and David Legwand
David Legwand
David Legwand is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League . He attended Grosse Pointe North High School....
to form the team's top unit. Erat missed the final 5 weeks of the season with a torn MCL.
Once again playing for Nashville in 2007–08, Erat posted a career high 23 goals, and added 34 assists to once again reach the 57 point plateau.
He is also known for his wrist shot
Wrist shot
A wrist shot is a type of ice hockey shot that involves using arm muscles to propel a puck forward from the concave side of the blade of a hockey stick. Generally, when the puck is shot in a similar manner using the convex side of the blade, it is referred to as a backhand shot...
and his speed.
Erat played for the Czech Republic at the World Junior Championships in 2001. He helped the team to win the gold medal. In 2006, Erat played for the bronze medal winning Czech national team at the Turin Olympics. In the same year, Erat was a member of the silver medal winning team from the IIHF World Championships in Riga, Latvia.
Following the 2007–08 season, Erat signed a 7 year, $31.5 million dollar contract with the Predators.
Martin has an older brother Roman Erat, who also plays hockey, but not at an NHL level.
He has two career hat tricks, the first against the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, and the second versus the Vancouver Canucks on December 8, 2009.
Awards
- Named the WHLWestern Hockey LeagueThe Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
Eastern Conference Player of the Month for November, 2000. - Named the WHL Player of the Week for November 13–19, 2000.
- Named the NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Third Star of the Week for November 12–17, 2007.
Records
- Games played by a Nashville Predators rookie - 80
- Assists by a Nashville Predators rookie - 24
- Points by a Nashville Predators rookie - 33
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1997–98 | Zlín Jr | CZE-Jr | 33 | 26 | 26 | 52 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Zlín Jr | CZE-Jr | 35 | 21 | 23 | 44 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | HC Zlín HC Zlín PSG Zlín is an ice hockey team in the Czech Extraliga. Their home arena is Zimní stadion Luďka Čajky in Zlín. They won the Extraliga in 2004. They were formerly known as HC Hamé Zlín.- Club names :* 1928 - SK Baťa Zlín* 1945 - ZK Baťa Zlín... |
CZE Czech Extraliga The Czech Extraliga is the highest-level ice hockey league in the Czech Republic. As of 2009, it is ranked by the IIHF as the third strongest league in Europe.... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Saskatoon Blades Saskatoon Blades The Saskatoon Blades are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195 seat Credit Union Centre.-History:... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
66 | 27 | 26 | 53 | 82 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | ||
| 2000–01 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 31 | 19 | 35 | 54 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Red Deer Rebels Red Deer Rebels The Red Deer Rebels are a Western Hockey League junior ice hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They play their home games at the ENMAX Centrium.... |
WHL | 17 | 4 | 24 | 28 | 24 | 22 | 15 | 21 | 36 | 32 | ||
| 2001–02 | Nashville Predators Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
80 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee Admirals The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
45 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 41 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | ||
| 2002–03 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 27 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 76 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2004–05 | HC Zlín | CZE | 48 | 29 | 30 | 43 | 129 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2005–06 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 80 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 76 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2006–07 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 68 | 16 | 41 | 57 | 50 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 76 | 23 | 34 | 57 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Nashville Predators | NHL | 71 | 17 | 33 | 50 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Nashville Predators | NHL | 74 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 50 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Nashville Predators | NHL | 64 | 17 | 33 | 50 | 22 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||
| NHL totals | 616 | 140 | 262 | 402 | 370 | 36 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 30 | ||||
International play
Erat played his first game in the national squad in 2004, and has played 23 times for the national team (as of Jan 3 2009)Played for the Czech Republic in:
- 2001 World Junior Championships
- 2006 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
- 2006 World Championships2006 Men's World Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 70th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 45 countries participated in four levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2007 competition...
(Bronze medal) - 2008 World Championships2008 Men's World Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 72nd such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 48 countries will participate in four levels of competition. The competition will also serve as qualifications for the 2009 competition...
- 2010 Czech Republic Olympic hockey team
International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Czech Republic | WJC | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 2006 | Czech Republic | Oly Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics -Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and... |
8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2006 | Czech Republic | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| 2008 | Czech Republic | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 2010 | Czech Republic | Oly | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |