Radek Faksa Bio
Radek Faksa is a Czech professional ice hockey player who plays centre for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on 9 January 1994, in Vítkov, Czech Republic, Faksa was selected 13th overall by the Stars in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 216 pounds, he is widely respected for his two-way game, his work along the boards, and his steady presence in all three zones.
Since first suiting up for Dallas in 2015, Faksa has built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable checking-line centres. He represented the Czech Republic at multiple international tournaments, including the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. A short stint with the St. Louis Blues preceded his 2025 return to Dallas, where he continues to anchor the team’s bottom-six forward group.
Early Life and Background
Radek Faksa was born on 9 January 1994, in Vítkov, Czech Republic, to parents Alena and Jiri Faksa. His mother, Alena, was a figure skater, while his uncle played professional hockey in the Czech Republic, giving the young Faksa a strong athletic foundation. Faksa began his ice hockey journey in his hometown of Opava, playing alongside his older brother Martin, whose encouragement helped spark Faksa’s passion for the game.
Growing up as the son of a single mother, Faksa faced financial pressure early in his career. At the age of 11, he received an offer from HC Oceláři Třinec to join the club’s development system. He accepted and moved alone to Třinec, where he lived in a hotel room paid for by the team. After a difficult first season that nearly pushed him back home, Faksa’s mother and Třinec’s general manager encouraged him to keep going, and he eventually settled into the program.
Path to Hockey
Faksa split the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons between HC Oceláři Třinec’s under-18 and under-20 clubs, registering 19 goals and 30 assists at the U18 level and nine goals and six assists at the U20 level. His strong two-way play and scoring touch drew attention from North American scouts, and in 2011 he was selected 22nd overall in the CHL Import Draft by the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Joining Kitchener for the 2011–12 OHL season, Faksa scored his first OHL goal on 1 October against the Saginaw Spirit. He quickly became one of the league’s most exciting rookies, earning OHL Rookie of the Month honours in November, January, and March, while also participating in the 2012 CHL Top Prospects Game. He finished his rookie year as the OHL’s leading rookie scorer with 29 goals and 37 assists for 66 points, was named to the OHL’s First All-Rookie Team, and was nominated for the Emms Family Award as the league’s top rookie.
That production convinced the Dallas Stars to select Faksa 13th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first Czech player taken in the first round since Jakub Voráček in 2007. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Dallas shortly afterward, beginning his journey toward the NHL.
Radek Faksa Career
Junior Development and AHL Introduction (2011–2015)
After his standout rookie season in Kitchener, Faksa returned to the Rangers for the lockout-shortened 2012–13 campaign, where he recorded nine goals and 22 assists in 39 games despite an MCL sprain. He rejoined the Rangers to start 2013–14 but was traded to the Sudbury Wolves on 10 January 2014, finishing the year with a combined 21 goals and 27 assists in 59 games. He also made his professional debut with the AHL’s Texas Stars that spring, recording his first professional point on 19 April 2013.
Faksa split the 2014–15 season between Kitchener and the AHL, producing 32 points for the Texas Stars before a shoulder injury cut his year short. He recovered in time for the following training camp, gaining 15 pounds of muscle during his rehabilitation, and reached the NHL for good in 2015.
NHL Debut and Playoff Run with Dallas (2015–2016)
After a strong training camp, Faksa made his NHL debut on 17 October 2015, skating on a line with Antoine Roussel and Colton Sceviour. He scored his first NHL goal on 6 November 2015, in a 4–1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, and finished his rookie year with five goals and seven assists in 45 games. He became a mainstay on the Stars’ third line alongside Aleš Hemský and Roussel, helping Dallas reach the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Faksa made an immediate impact in the postseason, scoring the game-winning goal in his playoff debut and finishing with three goals and two assists, the second-most by a Dallas Stars rookie in the playoffs since 1994. Dallas was eliminated by the St. Louis Blues in the second round, but Faksa had clearly established himself as a full-time NHLer.
Checking-Line Leader and Career-High Seasons (2016–2019)
Faksa earned a full-time roster spot for 2016–17 and posted career highs with 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 80 games, ranking fourth on the Stars with 101 hits. The performance earned him a three-year, $6.6 million contract extension. In 2017–18, he set a new career high with 17 goals, capped by a natural hat trick in a 3–0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on 28 November 2017, the first hat trick in T-Mobile Arena history and the Golden Knights’ first shutout of their inaugural season.
By 2018–19, Faksa had become one of Dallas’s most trusted defensive forwards. Centering a shutdown line with Blake Comeau and Tyler Pitlick, he helped the Stars clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2016. Dallas advanced to the second round before falling to the St. Louis Blues in double overtime in Game 7, after which Faksa joined the Czech Republic for the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
Top-Line Opportunity and St. Louis Stint (2019–2025)
Injuries early in 2019–20 opened the door for Faksa to start the season on Dallas’s top line with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, though he was soon returned to his familiar third-line role alongside Andrew Cogliano and Blake Comeau. He was later revealed to have been playing through a broken wrist during the Stars’ 2020 playoff run, after which he signed a five-year, $16.25 million extension. The wrist continued to hamper him through the COVID-shortened 2020–21 campaign, in which he managed 14 points in 55 games.
On 2 July 2024, Dallas traded Faksa to the St. Louis Blues, ending his nine-year tenure with the Stars. Following one season in St. Louis, Faksa returned to Dallas as a free agent on 1 July 2025, signing a three-year, $6 million contract.
Playing Style and Strengths
Faksa is widely regarded as one of the NHL’s most dependable two-way centres. He excels in defensive-zone faceoffs, forechecking, and physical play, regularly logging more than 100 hits per season at his peak. His willingness to play a straight-line, north-south game, combined with his 6-foot-3 frame, has made him an ideal match for shutdown lines and penalty-killing duties.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Faksa’s signature moments are his natural hat trick against the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, his playoff-winning goal against the St. Louis Blues in the 2016 second round, and his 2019 IIHF World Championship appearance with the Czech Republic. His 13th-overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft also stands as a milestone, marking him as the first Czech player taken in the first round since 2007.
Radek Faksa Career Wins
While Faksa is best known for his defensive reliability rather than goal-scoring totals, he has produced several signature wins and milestones across his OHL, AHL, and NHL career. His hat trick against the Golden Knights, his 2016 playoff-winning goal against the Blues, and his OHL rookie records all stand as major achievements in his career arc.
OHL Highlights
Faksa’s 2011–12 OHL rookie campaign with the Kitchener Rangers remains his most decorated individual season. He led all OHL rookies with 29 goals and 37 assists for 66 points, was named to the OHL’s First All-Rookie Team, and was nominated for the Emms Family Award as the OHL’s Rookie of the Year. He also tied the Rangers’ record for most goals by a CHL import-drafted rookie, finishing with 28 goals at the time of the achievement.
NHL and International Performances
At the NHL level, Faksa’s most memorable single-game performance remains his natural hat trick on 28 November 2017, which earned him NHL Third Star of the Week honours. Internationally, he represented the Czech Republic at the 2011 World U18 Championships, the 2012 and 2013 World Junior Championships, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the 2016 World Championship, and the 2019 IIHF World Championship, where he finished with four points.
Radek Faksa Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Radek Faksa was raised primarily by his mother, Alena Faksa, a former figure skater, and his father, Jiri Faksa. His uncle also played professional hockey in the Czech Republic, giving the family a strong athletic background. Faksa grew up playing alongside his older brother Martin in Opava, and the two brothers’ early bond with the sport helped shape his career path.
Personal Life
Faksa and his partner have two children. After spending time in Dallas and a brief stint in St. Louis, the family returned to Texas following his July 2025 signing with the Stars.
2025 Season Performance
Radek Faksa returned to the Dallas Stars on 1 July 2025, signing a three-year, $6 million free-agent contract after one season with the St. Louis Blues. His return was viewed as a homecoming, having spent his first nine NHL seasons in Dallas and developed into a trusted checking-line centre there.
Early in the 2025 campaign, Faksa has resumed his familiar third-line role, providing physical play, dependable faceoff work, and penalty-killing minutes. The Stars, still among the Western Conference contenders, have leaned on his veteran presence to balance a younger forward group, with Faksa’s leadership helping stabilize the bottom six.
Looking ahead, Faksa’s blend of defensive responsibility and leadership will be key to Dallas’s playoff push. With the Stars aiming to advance past the Western Conference Finals barrier, his experience in deep postseason runs and steady two-way play are expected to play a central role in their 2025 postseason outlook.