PERSONAL
Born: January 6, 1976 Hometown: Banska, Bystrica, Slovakia
Height: 5-11 Weight: 195		Position: Left Wing Shoots: Left
Name Prounouced: ZEHD-nihk		Jersey #: 44
Marital Status: Unmarried		Years on National Team: 1 Year
Began: 1986		Personal Coach: Jan Sterbak
First English Word: Taco Bell		Education: Secondary School
Language: Slovakian Training Venue: Ice Stadium, Washington MD, USA
Drafted: Washington's tenth choice in 1994 Entry Draft (249th overall) Acquired: Traded by Calgary for Washington's 5th choice in the 1993 Entry Draft

Transactions/Career Notes:

Played 25 games for B. Bystrica (Slovakia) during the 1993-94 season, recording three goals and six assists for nine points He was the Winter Hawks 1st choice(4th overall) in the '94 WHL expansion draft Made his debut in North America with the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL. Led the team in goals and points, Ranked 2nd in assists. Nominee for the WHL 'Player of the Year' in '95-'96 Shared team recored with 44 goals during '95-'96 Led team in powerplay goals with 15 Led WHL in playoffs with ten points(five goals and five assists) Registered one hat trick, 154 PIM's and one four-points game in '95 In '94 playoffs he tallied eight goals and four assists clinching first place for the Winter Hawks Led rookies in scoring for Winter Hawks in '94-'95(35-51-86) Honors: Named to WHL (West) All-Star second team (1995-96) 1995-96 Moved from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine when he was promoted to the Pirates of the AHL after the WHL season. Had one goal and one assist in his first AHL game. Called up to Washington on April 12th. Made his NHL debut in the final game of the season. Spent most of the 1996-97 season in Portland (AHL) where he had 15-20=35 in 56 games. International: Won gold and was the 2nd leading scorer at the 1994 European Pool C Junior Championships (8G, 12A) in six games played Selected by Washington Capitals in 10th round (10th Capitals pick, 249th overall) of NHL entry draft (June 29, 1994) Suffered from the flu (November 6, 1996) missed two games Played for Slovakia in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Principal scorer for Team Slovakia in the World Junior Championships in 1996. 1997-98 Season First NHL season. Third among NHL rookies in goals. Tied for 10th among NHL rookies in points. Third among NHL rookies in shots. Third on team in goals, shots and shooting percentage. Missed eight games with abdominal injury. Missed six games with concussion. Missed one game with flu. 1st NHL Game April 13, 1996 vs Buffalo 1st NHL Goal October 5, 1996 vs Chicago (Belfour) Most Points In A Game 2 (4x), Last: March 7, 1998 vs. Florida Milestones Within Reach 100 Caps/NHL games