Martin Havlat Martin Havlát, #9 (born April 19, 1981) is an ice hockey player with the Ottawa Senators of the NHL. He is nicknamed "Mach 9" for his speed and player number. Born in Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia he was drafted in the first round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, 26th overall. He plays right-wing.
He entered the league in the 2000 season and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy for top rookie. His point totals increased each subsequent year in the league, and in the 2003-2004 season he averaged a point per game.
Havlát developed a reputation as a dirty player. He was lambasted in the 2003 playoffs by Philadelphia Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock for his stickwork. In a later incident the next season, Hitchcock said that "somebody is going to make him eat his lunch." During the 2003-2004 season he was suspended twice, once for kicking, and once for cross-checking. He was most recently suspended on October 17, 2005, five games for another kicking incident againt Boston Bruins defenceman Hal Gill.
He returned from surgery after a shoulder injury that he suffered against the Montreal Canadiens and returned on March 15 2006 against Toronto Maple Leafs This represents just the latest of injuries that have plagued his career, including multiple bouts with groin problems and shoulder problems.
Historically, Havlát has always had trouble scoring in the postseason when the pressure to win is much higher. He improved in this department during the 2005-2006 season, scoring 7 goals in 10 games, but only once in five games in the series against the Buffalo Sabres.
Havlát plays for the Czech Republic internationally, and while representing them at the 2002 Winter Olympics he had three goals. He missed the 2006 Olympics due to a shoulder injury. During the off season he lives in Brno, Czech Republic.
