Starting the 2003-04 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Jozef totaled 58 points in 55 games, earning a call-up to the Canadiens and making his NHL debut on January 23 at New Jersey.
As the trade deadline approached, Balej was dealt to the New York Rangers, where he spent most of the rest of the season, notching five points in 13 games played.
In 2004-05, Jozef again found himself back in the American Hockey League, a fortunate son of the NHL labor stoppage as he was eligible to return to the AHL and keep playing in an NHL-sanctioned environment.
He has been productive for the Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 42 games this season.
Already proving he can excel at the minor’s highest level, Jozef will probably return to the NHL when play resumes. If there is ultimately team contraction in the NHL, an unlikely scenario, he might find himself a longer term resident of the American Hockey League.
