Karel Pilař (born December 23, 1977) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Playing career Pilař made his North American hockey debut during the 2001–02 NHL season, playing 52 games for the St. John's Maple Leafs of the AHL and earning himself a promotion to their parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, for the remainder of the season. The following season, Karel's career was jeopardized when a viral infection attacked his heart and sidelined him on two occasions. However, he fought back from his illness to play in 50 games for Toronto in the 2003–04 NHL season. With the NHL season canceled in 2004–05, Pilař returned home to play in his home town for HC Sparta Praha, scoring a career high of 13 goals and helping his club win the Czech Extraliga title. Unfortunately for Pilař, he suffered a relapse of the heart condition that had plagued him three years earlier, forcing him to miss the majority of the next two seasons. Once healthy, Pilař returned to North American ice 2007, playing the final 10 games of the season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. Seeking an opportunity for an NHL comeback, Pilař signed with the Atlanta Thrashers for the 2007–2008 season. After being claimed by the Chicago Blackhawks from waivers during training camp and re-claimed by the Thrashers, he was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. On January 14, 2009 he left Metallurg Magnitogorsk and returned to the Czech Republic, where he signed a contract to play for Sparta Praha. Having played for HC Litvínov of the Czech Extraliga as well as HC CSKA Moscow and Lev Poprad of the KHL after that, he signed a half-year contract with the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Elitserien (SEL) on January 30, 2012. Career statistics Regular season and playoffs International References External links Forecaster.ca Profile 1977 births Living people HL Anyang players Chicago Wolves players Czech ice hockey defencemen Czech expatriate ice hockey players in Russia HC CSKA Moscow players HC Donbass players HC Lev Poprad players HC Litvínov players Metallurg Magnitogorsk players HC Most players St. John's Maple Leafs players HC Sparta Praha players Ice hockey people from Prague Stadion Hradec Králové players Toronto Maple Leafs draft picks Toronto Maple Leafs players Toronto Marlies players Växjö Lakers players Czech expatriate ice hockey players in