when he was 15. Demitra began playing at the senior level with ZŤS Dubnica in Czechoslovakia's second-tier league; he recorded 23 points (13 goals and 10 assists) over 28 games. The following season, Demitra joined HC Dukla Trenčín of the premier Czechoslovak Extraliga in 1992–93, where he scored 11 goals and 28 points in 46 games. After the season, Demitra was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the ninth round, 227th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. He came to be considered one of the best draft steals in NHL history. Ottawa Senators Demitra began the 1993–94 season with the Ottawa Senators, and in his first NHL game on 9 October 1993, Demitra scored on St. Louis Blues goaltender Curtis Joseph for his first NHL goal and point. He played in 12 games for Ottawa during the season, scoring a goal and two points. Demitra mainly spent the season with Ottawa's American Hockey League affiliate, the Prince Edward Island Senators. In 41 AHL games Demitra recorded 41 points, sixth on the team. He spent most of the following season in the AHL, scoring 74 points in 61 games. Demitra also spent time with Ottawa, as he scored four goals and seven points in 16 games. He began the 1995–96 season in the AHL, but after scoring 81 points in 48 games was recalled to Ottawa permanently. With Ottawa, Demitra had seven goals and 17 points in 31 games. To start the 1996–97 season, Demtira was a contract hold-out with Ottawa. He played a game with HC Dukla Trenčín of the Slovak Extraliga, getting a goal and two points, before joining the Las Vegas Thunder of the IHL. With the Thunder, Demitra had eight goals and 21 points in 22 games. On 27 November 1996, the Senators parted ways with Demitra, as Ottawa traded him to the St. Louis Blues for Christer Olsson. St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues assigned Demitra to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the IHL, where in 42 games, Demitra had 20 goals and 50 points. He was called up to the Blues, and played his first game with the club on 17 March 1997, getting no points in a 3–2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. Demitra scored his first two goals with St. Louis on 3 April 1997, scoring twice against Tommy Salo in a 5–5 tie with the New York Islanders. He finished