Jiri Novotny

Jiri Novotny is a Czech center on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Novotny was drafted by Buffalo in 2001, 22nd overall. He spent two seasons with HC Ceske Budejovice of the Czech Extraliga before coming to the NHL. He then spent four seasons with Rochester of the AHL, before coming up to play 14 games with Buffalo. He was traded to Washington at the trade deadline in 2007, and signed with Columbus for the 2007-08 season. He played two years with the Blue Jackets before leaving the NHL to sign with HK Atlant in 2009. He had 12 goals and 33 points in his first KHL season, and was traded to Barys Astana in the 2010 offseason.

Novotny won a gold medal at the 2010 World Championships with the Czech Republic.