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 Dallas Stars in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft after a standout junior career in the Ontario Hockey League. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 216 pounds, he has built a reputation as a reliable two-way forward and a dependable checker. Over more than a decade in professional hockey, Faksa has represented the Czech Republic in multiple international tournaments and remains an established NHL centre.
Early Life and Background
Radek Faksa was born on 9 January 1994 in Vítkov, Czech Republic, to parents Jiri and Alena Faksa. His mother, Alena, was a former figure skater, and his uncle played professional hockey in the Czech Republic, giving the family a strong connection to the sport. Faksa has an older brother named Martin, and the two brothers began their hockey journey together in their hometown of Opava.
Raised largely by his mother as a single parent, Alena struggled to fund Radek Faksa’s early hockey development. When he was 11 years old, he received an offer to join the HC Oceláři Třinec youth system. He accepted and moved alone to Třinec, where he lived by himself in a hotel room paid for by the team. After a difficult first season in which he returned home, Faksa was encouraged by his mother and the Třinec general manager to continue pursuing the sport, a decision that shaped his future career.
Path to Hockey
Faksa split the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons between HC Oceláři Třinec’s under-18 and under-20 clubs, producing 19 goals and 30 assists with the under-18 team and nine goals and six assists with the under-20 team. His strong play earned him a selection 22nd overall by the Kitchener Rangers in the 2011 CHL Import Draft, and he joined the Rangers for the 2011–12 OHL season.
In his rookie OHL campaign, Faksa scored his first goal on 1 October 2011 and was named OHL Rookie of the Month three times during the season. He led all OHL rookies with 29 goals and 37 assists for 66 points, was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team, and was nominated for the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year. His dominant junior performance led to his selection 13th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first Czech player taken in the first round since Jakub Voráček in 2007.
Radek Faksa Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Following the 2012 NHL lockout, Faksa returned to the Kitchener Rangers for the 2012–13 OHL season, recording nine goals and 22 assists in 39 games. He was then assigned to the Dallas Stars’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Texas Stars, where he recorded his first professional point on 19 April 2013, helping Texas clinch first place in the Western Conference for the 2013 Calder Cup playoffs. In January 2014, Faksa was traded from Kitchener to the Sudbury Wolves, and he finished the 2013–14 season with combined totals of 21 goals and 27 assists across both teams.
Faksa attended Stars training camps in 2014 and 2015 but was assigned to the AHL each time, where he continued to develop his physical and professional game. After recovering from a shoulder injury and gaining 15 pounds of muscle, he returned stronger and more prepared for the NHL level.
Dallas Stars Breakthrough (2015–2019)
Faksa made his NHL debut on 17 October 2015 against the Florida Panthers and scored his first NHL goal on 6 November 2015 in a 4–1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He became a fixture on the Stars’ third line alongside Antoine Roussel and Aleš Hemský, finishing the 2015–16 season with five goals and seven assists in 45 games. In the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, Faksa scored a goal in his postseason debut against the Minnesota Wild and added the game-winning goal in Game 1 of the second round against the St. Louis Blues, finishing the playoffs with three goals and two assists.
By the 2016–17 season, Faksa was regarded as one of the Stars’ best checking centres, posting career highs of 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 80 games, which led to a three-year, $6.6 million contract extension. In 2017–18, he set a new career high with 17 goals and recorded a natural hat trick on 28 November 2017 against the Vegas Golden Knights, the first hat trick in T-Mobile Arena history and the first shutout of the Golden Knights’ inaugural season. Faksa also represented the Czech Republic at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey during this period.
Across the 2018–19 campaign, Faksa served as a shutdown centre against opposing teams’ top players, helping the Stars clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2016. The Stars advanced to the Western Conference second round before being eliminated by the St. Louis Blues in double overtime in Game 7. Faksa closed the season by representing the Czech Republic at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars Return (2019–2025)
Following the 2019 playoff run, Faksa opened the 2019–20 season on the Stars’ first line between Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin before being moved back to his familiar third-line role. Despite playing through a broken wrist, he continued to contribute defensively and was rewarded on 11 October 2020 with a five-year, $16.25 million contract extension. After the 2020–21 season was shortened to 56 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Faksa recorded 14 points in 55 games.
On 2 July 2024, Faksa’s nine-season tenure with the Stars ended when he was traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for future considerations. After one season in St. Louis, he returned to the Dallas Stars as a free agent on 1 July 2025, signing a three-year, $6 million contract.
Driving Style and Strengths
Faksa is widely recognized as a two-way centre with a strong physical presence and elite defensive awareness. Standing 6 feet 3 inches and weighing about 216 pounds, he uses his size to win board battles, block shots, and disrupt opposing top lines. His faceoff reliability, penalty-killing ability, and willingness to play a checking role have made him a consistent presence on the Stars’ lower lines throughout his NHL career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Faksa’s signature moments are his natural hat trick against the Vegas Golden Knights in November 2017, his Game 1 game-winning goal in the 2016 playoffs against the St. Louis Blues, and being selected 13th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He also represented the Czech Republic at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the 2019 IIHF World Championship, and multiple World Junior Championships.
Radek Faksa Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Radek Faksa has accumulated verified regular-season and playoff goals across the OHL, AHL, and NHL. He has yet to win a Stanley Cup, but he has produced consistent offensive totals in addition to his defensive contributions. His verified goal totals include 29 goals during his 2011–12 OHL rookie season, 17 goals in 2017–18, and 12 goals in 2016–17.
OHL Highlights
In his 2011–12 OHL rookie season with the Kitchener Rangers, Faksa led all league rookies with 29 goals and 37 assists for 66 points, was named OHL Rookie of the Month three times, and was selected to the OHL First All-Rookie Team. He tied the Rangers’ rookie import draft record with his 28th goal of the season on 10 March 2012.
Other Wins and Performances
Faksa has represented the Czech Republic in multiple international events, including the 2011 World U18 Championships, 2012 World Junior Championships, 2013 World Junior Championships, 2016 World Championship, 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and 2019 IIHF World Championship. His strongest NHL offensive season came in 2017–18, when he set career highs with 17 goals and a plus-21 rating.
Radek Faksa Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Radek Faksa was raised in Vítkov, Czech Republic, by his mother, Alena Faksa, a former figure skater, and his father, Jiri Faksa. His uncle also played professional hockey in the Czech Republic, instilling a deep connection to the sport from a young age. Faksa’s older brother, Martin, played alongside him during their early development in Opava before the two eventually pursued different paths in the sport.
Personal Life
Faksa and his wife have two children, a son and a daughter. He grew up primarily with his mother as a single parent, and the family has long supported his hockey career. His personal background, including his early move to Třinec at age 11, has been a key part of his story as a self-made professional athlete.
2025 Season Performance
Radek Faksa returned to the Dallas Stars on 1 July 2025, signing a three-year, $6 million contract as a free agent after one season with the St. Louis Blues. His return to Dallas is widely viewed as a homecoming, given his nine previous seasons with the organization and his history of defensive reliability.
Heading into the 2025–26 NHL season, Faksa is expected to slot into a checking-line role and continue to provide penalty killing, faceoff strength, and physical play. His veteran presence is expected to support the Stars’ younger forwards as the team pushes for a deep playoff run in the competitive Central Division.
With familiarity in the Dallas system, established chemistry with several returning teammates, and a defined two-way role, Faksa is well-positioned to deliver another steady season. His combination of size, experience, and defensive discipline remains a valuable asset for the Stars as they chase another Stanley Cup opportunity.
