Petr Straka
| Birthday: 1992-06-15 | Position: RW |
| Eligible for draft: 2010 | Shoots: Left |
| Drafted: 2010 | Height: 6-0 |
| Acquired: Free agent signing, 2013 | Weight: 194 lbs. |
Probability of Success
- C
History
2008-09: Petr Straka was chosen in the first round, 22nd overall, of the 2009 CHL Import Draft by the Rimouski Oceanic. He played for HC Plzen, scoring 16 goals and 11 assists in 30 games for that club.
2009-10: In his QMJHL rookie season, Straka played in 62 games for the Oceanic. He scored 28 goals and added 36 assists for 64 points. He added 54 minutes in penalties to his offensive statistics. In 12 playoff games, Straka scored 5 goals and chipped in 9 assists for 14 points. Played for Team Orr at the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game. Straka was chosen by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round, 55th overall, of the 2010 NHL Draft.
2010-11: Straka was bothered by an ankle injury and played just 41 games for Rimouski in his second season in the QMJHL. He scored 10 goals with 15 assists and was an even plus/minus with 33 PMs. Rimouski finished under .500 but made the playoffs after finishing fourth in their division. Straka skated in all five games in the Oceanic’s first round series with Gatineau and scored 2 goals with 2 assists.
2011-12: Straka played 54 games for Rimouski in his third QMJHL season and represented the Czech Republic at the 2012 World Junior Championship. He scored 18 goals with 19 assists and was -9 with 41 penalty minutes for the Oceanic. Rimouski was fourth in the East Division and reached the QMJHL finals against Saint John. Straka scored 10 goals with 12 assists in 21 playoff games and was -1 with 6 penalty minutes. In six games at the WJC he had 1 assist and was +2 with 27 penalty minutes. Straka was not signed to a contract by Columbus and re-entered the 2012 NHL Draft but was not selected.
2012-13: Straka returned to the QMJHL for an over-age season and was the leading scorer for Baie-Comeau. He scored 41 goals with 41 assists in 55 games and was +33 with 34 penalty minutes. The Drakkar finished first in the East Division and reached the QMJHL finals against Memorial Cup champion Halifax. Straka scored 11 goals with 14 assists and was +7 with 12 penalty minutes in 19 playoff games. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Philadelphia in April of 2013.
2013-14: Straka skated in 60 games for Flyers AHL affiliate Adirondack in his first pro season. He scored 9 goals with 18 assists and was minus-4 with 22 penalty minutes. Adirondack missed the playoffs; finishing fourth in the Northeast Division.
2014-15: Straka made his NHL debut during a three-game stint with the Flyers at the end of January before being returned to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms in his second pro season. He had 2 assists and was +1 with no penalties, averaging 9:27 minutes of ice time with Philadelphia. Straka scored 14 goals with 10 assists and was -20 with 26 penalty minutes in 68 games for the Phantoms. Lehigh Valley finished fourth in the East Division, missing the AHL playoffs.
2015-16: Straka played in 64 of 76 games for Lehigh Valley in his third pro season. He scored 19 goals with 18 assists and was +5 with 25 penalty minutes. The Phantoms finished seventh in the Atlantic Division, missing the AHL playoffs.
Talent Analysis
A speedy winger with great hands, Straka has learned to play effective hockey at both ends of the ice. Although he sometimes struggles with consistency, Straka has a nose for the net and will only get better as he continues to develop and get stronger. He earned his first NHL action in 2014-15, playing in three games for the Flyers.
Future
Straka skated for Flyers' AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley in 2015-16. Signed as an undrafted free agent following an impressive overage season in junior hockey in 2012-13, the highly-skilled Czech forward has not had the same dominance at the pro level though he did score a career-high 19 goals with the Phantoms this past season. He would become an unrestricted free agent if not tendered a qualifying offer by Philadelphia by June 2016. He is equally likely to head elsewhere or return to Europe. He projects as a lower line forward with some scoring skill but he does not play the type of heavy game normally associated with fourth line forwards.
