Thu Jun 26 11:35:53 2008

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Rangers' Straka returning to the Czech Republic

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Prague, Czech Republic (Sports Network) - Veteran forward Martin Straka has decided to leave the NHL and return to play is his native country, the Czech Republic.

Straka, who spent the last three seasons with the New York Rangers, will return to his former team of HC Lasselsberger Plzen as both a player and sports director.

A former first-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 1992, the 35-year-old Straka has amassed 257 goals and had 460 assists in 954 NHL games with the Penguins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings and Rangers.

He totaled 14 goals and had 27 assists in 65 games with the Rangers last year.

Straka played for HC Lasselsberger Plzen before he arrived in the NHL, and also toiled for the club during the NHL lockout in 2004-05.