Miroslav Zálešák

Miroslav Zálešák (born January 2, 1980) is a Slovak former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks. He is currently working as a European scout for the Colorado Avalanche.

Playing career Zálešák was drafted 104th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1998 NHL entry draft. He has played 12 career NHL games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points. His only NHL goal was scored on March 11, 2003 against Brent Johnson and the visiting St. Louis Blues.

After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Zálešák was not tendered a qualifying offer, as San Jose felt they had no room for him. Wanting to play in the NHL, Zálešák signed a contract with the Washington Capitals. However, Zálešák had a clause in his deal that stated if he ever was sent down to the AHL, he had the option of nullifying the contract. After being sent down, Zálešák exercised his option and returned to Slovakia to sign for his hometown team HK 36 Skalica before moving to HC Litvínov in the Czech Extraliga. In 2005, Zálešák signed with Södertälje SK of the Swedish Elitserien and led the team in goals (16) and points (25). He returned to the Czech Republic with two seasons for HC Oceláři Třinec before returning to HK 36 Skalica.

International play Zálešák played for Slovakia at the 2006 and 2010 World Championships.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1995–96 HK Nitra U18 SVK U18 49 53 29 82 — — — — — — 1996–97 HK Nitra U18 SVK U18 58 51 31 82 — — — — — — 1997–98 HK Nitra U20 SVK U20 27 32 29 61 30 — — — — — 1997–98 HK Nitra SVK 30 8 6 14 0 — — — — — 1998–99 Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL 45 24 27 51 18 — — — — — 1998–99 HK Nitra SVK 14 4 2 6 10 — — — — — 1999–00 Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL 60 50 61 111 40 16 7 11 18 4 2000–01 Kentucky Thoroughblades AHL 60 14 11 25 26 3 0 1 1 4 2001–02 Cleveland Barons AHL 74 22 20 42 44 — — — — — 2002–03 San Jose Sharks NHL 10 1 2 3 0 — — — — — 2002–03 Cleveland Barons AHL 50 27 22 49 35 — — — — — 2003–04 San Jose Sharks NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2003–04 Cleveland Barons AHL 72 35 40 75 80 9 1 4 5 14 2004–05 HK 36 Skalica SVK 18 11 14 25 18 — — — — — 2004–05 HC Chemopetrol Litvínov CZE 30 6 6 12 26 6 1 1 2 0 2005–06 Södertälje SK SWE 43 16 9 25 28 — — — — — 2006–07 HC Oceláři Třinec CZE 11 2 0 2 6 1 1 0 1 32 2007–08 HC Oceláři Třinec CZE 25 4 5 9 55 — — — — — 2007–08 HK 36 Skalica SVK 21 13 16 29 20 10 3 5 8 31 2008–09 HK 36 Skalica SVK 38 13 33 46 62 17 2 9 11 16 2009–10 HK 36 Skalica SVK 47 26 14 40 76 7 2 1 3 6 2010–11 HK 36 Skalica SVK 52 23 33 56 88 — — — — — 2010–11 HC Košice SVK 6 5 3 8 4 14 8 8 16 4 2011–12 HC Košice SVK 54 15 32 47 36 16 7 5 12 18 2012–13 Piráti Chomutov CZE 49 9 13 22 57 — — — — — 2013–14 Yertis Pavlodar KAZ 46 26 43 69 34 13 2 8 10 8 2014–15 Yertis Pavlodar KAZ 21 5 15 20 30 — — — — — 2014–15 HK 36 Skalica SVK 6 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 2015–16 Swindon Wildcats EIHL 7 4 6 10 2 — — — — — 2015–16 HK 36 Skalica SVK 21 2 7 9 6 — — — — — 2015–16 ŠHK 37 Piešťany SVK 8 1 0 1 6 — — — — — SVK totals 315 122 160 282 328 72 23 33 56 79 NHL totals 12 1 2 3 0 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1998 Slovakia EJC 6 4 1 5 2 1999 Slovakia WJC 5 2 1 3 4 2000 Slovakia WJC 7 1 2 3 2 2006 Slovakia WC 7 0 1 1 2 2010 Slovakia WC 3 0 0 0 0 Junior totals 18 7 4 11 8 Senior totals 10 0 1 1 2