Radim Vrbata

Radim Vrbata
Vrbata with the Canucks in October 2015
Born	(1981-06-13) 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 right winger currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Vrbata was originally drafted in 1999 by the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he has also played, along with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning during his NHL career.

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 IIHF World Championship with the Czech Republic.

In March 2003, Vrbata was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Bates Battaglia, later being acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks on December 30, 2005, in exchange for future considerations. After two subpar seasons with Chicago, he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on August 11, 2007, for Kevyn Adams. During his first year in Phoenix, he set career highs in goals, 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. 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. On January 2, 2009, he joined his hometown team, BK Mladá Boleslav. Vrbata's stint with Boleslav, however, was cut short when he was sent on loan to Bílí Tygři Liberec on January 29, 2009.

Vrbata with the Phoenix Coyotes

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 for the 2009–10 season. Having already filled Vrbata's spot on the team's roster, however, Tampa Bay had no interests in retaining Vrbata and his agent, Rich Evans, was subsequently given permission to orchestrate a trade with another NHL organization. Thus, on July 21, 2009, Vrbata was traded back to the Coyotes in exchange for David Hale and Todd Fedoruk for a second stint with the team. He would total 43 goals in his next two seasons with the team, coupled with four Stanley Cup playoff goals as Phoenix qualified for the playoffs in both 2010 and 2011, losing both times to the Detroit Red Wings.

On February 21, 2012, Vrbata scored two goals in a 5–4 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings. His second goal gave him 30 on the season, a career high. He would finish the 2011–12 season with a career-high 35 goals in which he led the entire NHL in game-winners, with 12.

On July 2, 2014, Vrbata signed as an unrestricted free agent to a two-year, $10 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Vrbata stated the opportunity to play with the Sedin twins was a large factor in his decision. In his first season in Vancouver, 2014–15, Vrbata enjoyed a career year, finishing the regular season with 63 points from 78 games, besting his previous 62-point career-high season in 2011–12. He also led the Canucks in goals scored with 31, his second-highest single-season career total behind the 35 he scored in 2011–12.

Personal

Vrbata is from the same city as former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Martin Havlát, Mladá Boleslav. Vrbata's brother David is also a professional hockey player.

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	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	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
Representing Czech Republic
World Junior Championships
	2001 Moscow
World Championships
	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

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