Radim Vrbata
| Radim Vrbata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 13, 1981 Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) |
| Position | Right Wing |
| Shoots | Right |
| NHL team Former teams |
Vancouver Canucks Colorado Avalanche Carolina Hurricanes Chicago Blackhawks Phoenix Coyotes 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 who is currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks in 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, Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Playing career
Vrbata was drafted in the seventh 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 led 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.
On July 2, 2014, Vrbata left the Coyotes and signed as a free agent to a two-year $10 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[8] Vrbata stated the opportunity to play with the Sedin twins was a large factor in his decision.[9]
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.[10]
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 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 80 | 20 | 31 | 51 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 79 | 31 | 32 | 63 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 871 | 246 | 281 | 527 | 250 | 42 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 12 | ||||
International
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitor for Czech Republic
| ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Gold | 2001 Moscow | |
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2005 Vienna | |
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Czech Republic | WJC |  |
7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2003 | Czech Republic | WC | 4th | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2005 | Czech Republic | WC | |
3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2008 | Czech Republic | WC | 5th | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2013 | Czech Republic | WC | 7th | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||
| Senior totals | 27 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 10 | ||||
References
- ↑ "Tampa Bay adds Vrbata from Phoenix". Canadian Press. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ↑ "Vrbata heading home". TSN. 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ↑ "Radim Vrbata returns to play". (in czech) hockey.idnes.cz. 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ↑ "Bili acquire Vrbata on Loan from Boleslav". (in czech) hcbilitygri.cz. 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
- ↑ "Tampa Bay Lightning has no interest in returning right wing Radim Vrbata". TampaBay.com. 2009-07-10. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
- ↑ "Vrbata traded back to Coyotes". CBC. 2009-07-21. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
- ↑ "Coyotes prevail over Kings". National Hockey League. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
- ↑ "Canucks sign Radim Vrbata". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2014-07-02. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
- ↑ "Vrbat with Sekeras and Price interview". soundcloud.com. 2014-09-25. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
- ↑ "Radim Vrbata player profile". Eliteprospects.com. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
External links
- Radim Vrbata's career statistics at EliteProspects.com
- Radim Vrbata's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
- Radim Vrbata profile at Eurohockey.com