Radim Vrbata

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Radim Vrbata
Born (1981-06-13) June 13, 1981
Mladá Boleslav, TCH
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams 		Phoenix Coyotes
Colorado Avalanche
Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Blackhawks
Tampa Bay Lightning
National team  Czech Republic
NHL Draft 212th overall, 1999
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2001–present

Radim Vrbata (born June 13, 1981) is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche with whom he has also played, along with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Playing career

Vrbata was drafted in the eighth round, 212th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He won the 2001 World Junior Championship and the 2005 World Championships with the Czech Republic.

In March 2003, Vrbata was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Bates Battaglia. He was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes by the Chicago Blackhawks on December 30, 2005 for future considerations. After two subpar seasons in Chicago, he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on August 11, 2007 for Kevyn Adams. During his 1st year in Phoenix, he set career highs in goals, and assists, and lead the team in scoring.

On July 1, 2008, Vrbata, as a free agent, signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[1] After starting the 2008–09 season out of form and citing confidence issues, and the fact that his wife was having difficulty during pregnancy, Vrbata asked, and was granted permission to return home to the Czech Republic on December 8, 2008.[2] On January 2, 2009 he joined hometown team, BK Mladá Boleslav.[3] Vrbata's stint with Boleslav was cut short when he was sent on loan to HC Bílí Tygři Liberec on January 29, 2009.[4]

After finishing the season in the Czech Republic, Vrbata advised the Lightning he intended to return to the NHL for the second year of his contract in the 2009–10 season. Having filled Vrbata's roster spot the Lightning had no interests in retaining Vrbata and his agent, Rich Evans, was given permission to work out a trade.[5] On July 21, 2009, Vrbata was traded by the Lightning back to the Coyotes in exchange for David Hale and Todd Fedoruk[6] for a second stint with the team. He would total 43 goals in his next two seasons with the team, coupled with four playoff goals as the Coyotes qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in both 2010 and 2011, losing both times to the Detroit Red Wings.

On February 21, 2012, Vrbata scored two goals in a Coyotes 5-4 Shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings. His second goal gave him 30 on the season, a career high.[7] He would finish the season with a career high 35 goals, in which he led the entire NHL in game-winning goals with 12.

Personal

Vrbata is from the same city as former Blackhawks teammate Martin Havlát, Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic. His brother David is also a professional hockey player.[8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Hull Olympiques QMJHL 54 22 38 60 16 23 6 13 19 6
1999–00 Hull Olympiques QMJHL 59 29 45 74 26 15 3 9 12 8
2000–01 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 55 56 64 120 67 10 4 7 11 4
2000–01 Hershey Bears AHL 20 8 14 22 8 — — — — —
2001–02 Colorado Avalanche NHL 52 18 12 30 14 9 0 0 0 0
2002–03 Colorado Avalanche NHL 66 11 19 30 16 — — — — —
2002–03 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 10 5 0 5 2 — — — — —
2003–04 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 80 12 13 25 24 — — — — —
2004–05 HC Bílí Tygři Liberec CZE 45 18 21 39 91 13 3 2 5 0
2004–05 BK Mladá Boleslav Czech 1. 2 0 1 1 6 — — — — —
2005–06 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 16 2 3 5 6 — — — — —
2005–06 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 45 13 21 34 22 — — — — —
2006–07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 77 14 27 41 26 — — — — —
2007–08 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 76 27 29 56 14 — — — — —
2008–09 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 18 3 3 6 8 — — — — —
2008–09 BK Mladá Boleslav CZE 11 5 3 8 18 — — — — —
2008–09 HC Bílí Tygři Liberec CZE 7 7 2 9 2 3 0 1 1 2
2009–10 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 82 24 19 43 24 7 2 2 4 4
2010–11 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 79 19 29 48 20 4 2 3 5 0
2011–12 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 77 35 27 62 24 16 2 3 5 8
2012–13 BK Mladá Boleslav Czech 1. 2 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2012–13 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 34 12 16 28 14 — — — — —
NHL totals 712 195 218 413 208 36 6 8 14 12

International

Medal record
Competitor for  Czech Republic
World Championships
Gold 2005 Vienna
World Junior Championships
Gold 2001 Moscow
Year Team Comp GP G A Pts PIM
2001 Czech Republic WJC 7 1 2 3 4
2003 Czech Republic WC 9 3 3 6 2
2005 Czech Republic WC 3 0 1 1 0
2008 Czech Republic WC 7 5 2 7 4
2013 Czech Republic WC 8 2 1 3 4
Junior int'l totals 7 1 2 3 4
Senior int'l totals 27 10 7 17 10

References

  1. ↑ "Tampa Bay adds Vrbata from Phoenix". Canadian Press. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  2. ↑ "Vrbata heading home". TSN. 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2008-12-08. 
  3. ↑ "Radim Vrbata returns to play". (in czech) hockey.idnes.cz. 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2009-01-02. 
  4. ↑ "Bili acquire Vrbata on Loan from Boleslav". (in czech) hcbilitygri.cz. 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
  5. ↑ "Tampa Bay Lightning has no interest in returning right wing Radim Vrbata". TampaBay.com. 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  6. ↑ "Vrbata traded back to Coyotes". CBC. 2009-07-21. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  7. ↑ "Coyotes prevail over Kings". National Hockey League. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2012-02-21. 
  8. ↑ "Radim Vrbata player profile". Eliteprospects.com. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2013-01-02. 

External links

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