Radim Vrbata

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Radim Vrbata
Radim Vrbata 10-2015.jpg
Vrbata with the Canucks in October 2015
Born (1981-06-13) June 13, 1981 (age 43)
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.[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 his hometown team, BK Mladá Boleslav.[3] Vrbata's stint with Boleslav, however, was cut short when he was sent on loan to Bílí Tygři Liberec on January 29, 2009.[4]

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.[5] Thus, on July 21, 2009, Vrbata was traded 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 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.[7] 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.[8] Vrbata stated the opportunity to play with the Sedin twins was a large factor in his decision.[9] 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.[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 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
Gold medal – first place 2001 Moscow
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2005 Vienna
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2001 Czech Republic WJC 1st 7 1 2 3 4
2003 Czech Republic WC 4th 9 3 3 6 2
2005 Czech Republic WC 1st 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

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External links

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