Aleš Hemský

1.1. Junior and early professional career (1999-2002)

Hemský entered professional ice hockey at 16 years old, playing for HC Moeller Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga during the 1999-2000 season, which he split between the senior club and their junior team, HC Moeller Pardubice Jr.

Believing he would have a better chance to be scouted in Canadian junior leagues, Hemský decided to move to North America. He was subsequently selected as the first overall pick by the Hull Olympiques in the 2000 CHL Import Draft, joining the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In the 2000-01 season, Hemský led all QMJHL rookies in scoring with 36 goals and 100 points. His outstanding performance earned him a spot on the All-Rookie team, and he was chosen to play in the 2001 CHL Top Prospects Game, although an injury prevented his participation. He was also awarded the Mike Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL's top professional prospect and was named QMJHL Rookie of the Month in January 2001. Hemský continued his success in Hull during the 2001-02 season, recording 27 goals and 97 points in 53 games, finishing 19th in the QMJHL scoring race. He was named to the QMJHL second All-Star team and the CHL third All-Star team in 2002.

2.1. Edmonton Oilers (2002-2014)

On October 12, 2002, Aleš Hemský recorded his first career assist against the Nashville Predators. He scored his first career goal on January 4, 2003, against the Montreal Canadiens in his 26th game during his rookie NHL season. In his inaugural season, he tallied six goals and 30 points in 59 games, and was a healthy scratch for 23 games.

During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Hemský returned to the Czech Republic to play 47 games for HC Moeller Pardubice, where he scored 13 goals and 31 points, ranking fifth on the team. Pardubice won the 2004-05 Czech Extraliga championship, their first in 16 years, and Hemský was named the playoff most valuable player.

The 2005-06 NHL season was a career-best for Hemský, as he set personal records in goals (19), assists (58), and points (77) while playing in all but one regular season game for the Oilers. The Oilers secured the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. In the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Oilers eliminated the Detroit Red Wings in six games, then defeated the San Jose Sharks in the same number of games in the second round. In the Conference Finals, Edmonton overcame the Anaheim Ducks in five games, ultimately losing the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. Hemský played a crucial role in the Oilers' playoff run, notably scoring two goals in the third period of Game 6 against the Detroit Red Wings, including the series-winner. During the playoffs, he underwent a biopsy on an inflamed lymph node in his neck, though the results were not publicly disclosed.

In the summer of 2006, Edmonton re-signed Hemský to a six-year contract worth 24.60 M USD. The 2006-07 NHL season saw Hemský record 53 points in 64 games, missing 18 games due to shoulder injuries. On January 4, 2007, he tied a game against the Dallas Stars with two seconds remaining after Patrik Štefan lost the puck in front of the Oilers' empty net. Although the Oilers eventually lost the game in a shootout, the single point gained from the loss allowed them to finish one place ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, who would go on to win the first overall pick and draft Patrick Kane.

The 2007-08 NHL season was short for the Oilers, who missed the playoffs. Hemský led the team in overall points with 71 and assists with 51, and was third in goals with a career-high 20. The 2008-09 NHL season was again impacted by injuries for Hemský, who played 72 of 82 regular season games, leading the team with 23 goals and 43 assists for 66 points. In the 2009-10 NHL season, Hemský recorded seven goals and 15 assists in the first 22 games before suffering a left shoulder injury from a hit by Los Angeles Kings forward Michal Handzuš. The injury required surgery, causing him to miss the remainder of the regular season.

For the 2010-11 NHL season, Hemský was selected for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game but did not participate due to a concussion. He also missed the remainder of the season due to another shoulder injury. Hemský, along with Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner, led the Oilers with 42 points for most of the season until they were surpassed by Jordan Eberle due to their injuries. Hemský recorded his 400th career point by scoring a goal in a 9-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

After missing the beginning of the 2011-12 NHL season due to injury, Hemský initially struggled, posting only 11 points in his first 25 games, including a nine-game pointless streak. However, he improved his performance, scoring 15 points in his next 22 games, which led the Oilers to sign him to a two-year, 10.00 M USD deal on February 24, 2012. On March 21, 2012, Hemský achieved his first career NHL hat trick, finishing with four points in a 6-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Despite coming back from two shoulder surgeries, Hemský had a disappointing start to the season and concluded the year with 36 points in 69 games. In the 2012-13 NHL season, he played 27 games for HC ČSOB Pojišťovna Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga, scoring 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points, before playing 38 games for the Oilers, tallying 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 points. He played 55 games for the Oilers in the 2013-14 NHL season, scoring 9 goals and 17 assists for 26 points.

2.2. Ottawa Senators (2014)

In the final year of his contract with the Oilers and with the team out of playoff contention, Hemský was traded to the Ottawa Senators on March 5, 2014, in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He quickly found success playing on Ottawa's top line alongside center Jason Spezza, recording six points in his first three games. He concluded the season with 17 points in 20 games as the Senators ultimately missed the playoffs.

2.3. Dallas Stars (2014-2017)

After being unable to agree on a new contract with the Senators, Hemský signed a three-year, 12.00 M USD contract as a free agent with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2014. He was joined in Dallas by his former Senators linemate Jason Spezza, who was traded to the Stars earlier the same day. He also reunited with former Oilers teammate Shawn Horcoff. Hemský played 76 games for the Stars in the 2014-15 NHL season, recording 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points. In the 2015-16 NHL season, he played 75 games, scoring 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points, and contributed 1 goal and 3 assists in 13 playoff games. His time with the Stars in the 2016-17 NHL season was limited to 15 games, where he scored 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points.

2.4. Montreal Canadiens (2017-2018)

Entering free agency, Hemský signed a one-year, 1.00 M USD contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 3, 2017. His season was cut short after only seven games due to a severe concussion suffered during a game against the Anaheim Ducks on October 20. By September 2018, Hemský had recovered from his concussion symptoms, but the Canadiens had not renewed his contract, and no other team had expressed interest.

2.5. Retirement

On May 15, 2020, Aleš Hemský officially announced his retirement from professional hockey.

3.1. Winter Olympics

Hemský was a key member of the Czech team that won a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Czech ice hockey icon Jaromír Jágr strongly influenced Hemský's selection for the team, insisting that Hemský skate on his line. The two had previously played together when the Czech team won the 2005 IIHF World Championship during the NHL's 2004-05 lockout season. Hemský scored two goals in the Olympic tournament, and the Czech Republic defeated Russia in the bronze-medal game.

He missed the 2010 Winter Olympics but was selected for the 2014 Olympic ice hockey tournament in Sochi. At the 2014 games, Hemský became the highest scorer for the Czech team, tallying three goals and four points.

3.2. IIHF World Championships

Hemský has represented the Czech Republic in three IIHF World Ice Hockey Championships. He won a gold medal with the team in 2005 and a bronze medal in 2012. His first appearance in a Czech uniform was at the 2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where the team finished 7th. He also participated in the 2009 IIHF World Championship, where the Czech team placed 6th.

3.3. Other international tournaments

In addition to ice hockey, Hemský also represented the Czech Republic in the IIHF inline hockey World Championship tournaments in 2008 and 2012. In the 2008 tournament, Hemský tied for fourth place in scoring with six goals and five assists, contributing to the Czech Republic's fifth-place finish.

4.1. Individual awards

• 2001 QMJHL All-Rookie team
• 2001 QMJHL Mike Bossy Trophy
• 2001 CHL All-Rookie Team
• 2001 QMJHL Rookie of the Month (January)
• 2002 QMJHL second All-Star team
• 2002 CHL third All-Star team
• 2005 Czech Extraliga Playoff MVP
• Selected to play in the 2011 NHL All-Star Game (did not play due to injury)

4.2. Team honours

6.1. Regular season and playoffs

6.2. International