The Lake Erie Monsters on Monday signed veteran NHL defenseman Jan Hejda to a professional tryout contract. A Prague, Czech Republic, native, Hejda was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth round of the 2003 NHL Draft with the 106th overall pick.
A 6-foot-3, 209-pound blueliner, Hejda, 37, has 25 goals, 135 points and 317 penalty minutes to his credit in 627 career NHL games played spanning parts of nine seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche. In five career AHL appearances for the Hamilton Bulldogs during the 2006-07 season, Hejda registered three assists, 21 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating.
Prior to his North American career, Hejda spent parts of nine seasons playing professionally in the Czech Republic and Russia and represented the Czech Republic in seven IIHF World Championships and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
