The Colorado Avalanche drafted Hejduk in the fourth round ( 87th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. Hejduk quickly became a fixture in the Avs´ lineup, playing all 82 games in both of his first two years in the League. He scored his first NHL goal in his first game, Oct. 10, 1998, against the Ottawa Senators. Hejduk totaled 14 goals and 34 assists in his rookie season and upped his totals to 36 goals and 36 assists in 1999-00. The playmaking winger helped the Avalanche capture the 2001 Stanley Cup, notching seven goals and 16 assists in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Hejduk also had success on the international circuit -- in 1998, he won the gold medal with the Czech Republic at the Olympic Games.