Michael Kostka

Michael Christopher Kostka (born November 28, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played a parts of five seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, and Ottawa Senators. He also played for Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Career
He started his hockey career with the Ajax-Pickering Raiders of the Eastern AAA Hockey League. He played 2 seasons with them and then moved on to play in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League for the Ajax Axemen for 2 seasons and the Aurora Tigers for 1 season. He went on to play in college for the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he played 4 years for the Minutemen.

He went undrafted but was signed to a professional contract by the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League on March 25, 2008. He spent 1 season with the Sabres' AHL, the Rochester Americans and then two seasons with the new affiliate, the Portland Pirates. He returned to the Rochester Americans for the 2010–11 AHL season. He then signed a contract with Rochester's then-affiliate, Florida Panthers. The Panthers traded Kostka along with Evan Oberg, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for James Wright and Mike Vernace. He played for the Norfolk Admirals and helped them win the Calder Cup during the 2011–12 AHL playoffs. He was then signed as a free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs to a one-year contract. He got his first NHL point during his debut NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens on January 19, 2013.

On July 19, 2013, He signed as a free agent with the defending champions, the Chicago Blackhawks to a one-year, two way contract.

On February 23, 2014, Kostka was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On June 28, 2014, Kostka was signed as a free agent by the New York Rangers to a one-year contract.

On July 1, 2015, Kostka signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators.

On g, the Senators traded Kostka along with Curtis Lazar to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Jyrki Jokipakka and a second-round pick. He did not play for them though.

On September 1, 2017, Kostka left the NHL to play oversees. He would sign a contract to play for Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

References

 Other websites 

Category:1985 births
Category:Living people
Category:Binghamton Senators players
Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Hartford Wolf Pack players
Category:Ice hockey people from Ontario
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:Norfolk Admirals players
Category:Portland Pirates players
Category:Rochester Americans players
Category:Rockford IceHogs (AHL) players
Category:San Antonio Rampage players
Category:Stockton Heat players
Category:Tampa Bay Lightning players
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Toronto Marlies players