Radim Vrbata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Radim Vrbata |
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Vrbata with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2014
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| Born | 13 June 1981 Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Colorado Avalanche Carolina Hurricanes Bílí Tygři Liberec Chicago Blackhawks Arizona Coyotes Tampa Bay Lightning Mladá Boleslav Vancouver Canucks Florida Panthers |
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| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 212th overall, 1999 Colorado Avalanche |
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| Playing career | 2001–2018 | ||
Radim Vrbata (born June 13, 1981) is a Czech former professional ice hockey player. He played as a right winger for 16 years in the National Hockey League (NHL). Radim was first picked by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1999 NHL Draft. During his amazing NHL career, he also played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, and Florida Panthers. In 2015, Radim Vrbata was even chosen as an NHL All-Star!
Contents
Radim Vrbata's Hockey Journey
Starting Strong: Draft and Early Wins
Radim Vrbata was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 1999. He was the 212th player picked overall. This means he was chosen in the seventh round of the draft.
He quickly showed his talent on the international stage. Radim helped the Czech Republic win two big championships:
- The 2001 World Junior Championship.
- The 2005 IIHF World Championship.
Radim played his very first NHL game in February 2002. It was against the New York Islanders. The very next night, he scored his first NHL goal against the Rangers! In his first season, he scored 18 goals and made 12 assists. He often played alongside famous players like Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic.
Moving Around the NHL Teams
In March 2003, Radim was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. Later, in December 2005, he joined the Chicago Blackhawks. After two seasons with Chicago, he was traded again. This time, he went to the Phoenix Coyotes in August 2007.
His first year with the Coyotes was fantastic! He scored more goals and made more assists than ever before. He even led his team in scoring that season.
A Short Break and Return to the NHL
On July 1, 2008, Radim signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, he had a tough start to the season. He also had personal reasons, as his wife was having a difficult pregnancy. Because of this, Radim asked to go back home to the Czech Republic. He was allowed to leave in December 2008.
He joined his hometown team, BK Mladá Boleslav, in January 2009. But his time there was short. He was soon loaned to another Czech team, Bílí Tygři Liberec.
After finishing the season in the Czech Republic, Radim wanted to return to the NHL. The Lightning, however, had already filled his spot on their team. So, Radim's agent helped him find a new team. In July 2009, he was traded back to the Coyotes! This was his second time playing for them.
Back with the Coyotes and Big Achievements
Radim had two strong seasons in his second time with the Coyotes. He scored 43 goals in total. The Coyotes made it to the playoffs in both 2010 and 2011.
On February 21, 2012, Radim scored two goals in a game against the Los Angeles Kings. His second goal was his 30th of the season, which was a new personal best! He finished the 2011–12 season with an amazing 35 goals. He also led the entire NHL in "game-winning goals" with 12. This means his goals often decided the winner of the game!
Playing for Vancouver and All-Star Fun
On July 2, 2014, Radim signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He said a big reason for joining them was the chance to play with the famous Sedin twins.
His first season in Vancouver was one of his best! He scored 63 points in 79 games. This was a new career high for him. He also led the Canucks with 31 goals. Because of his great performance, he was chosen to play in the All-Star Game! He even scored the first goal in that game.
His final year with the Canucks in 2015–16 was a bit tougher. He scored fewer points than before. After that, he decided to return to the Arizona Coyotes for a third time in August 2016.
Setting Records and Retirement
During the 2016–17 season, Radim Vrbata made history. On November 25, 2016, he became the NHL's all-time leader in shootout goals! A shootout is a fun way to decide a game if it's still tied after overtime. In his return to Arizona, he led the team with 20 goals and 55 points.
On July 1, 2017, Radim signed a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers. He played his final season there.
On April 7, 2018, Radim Vrbata announced he was retiring from professional hockey. He had played for 16 seasons!
Personal Life
Radim Vrbata's brother, David, is also a professional hockey player.
International Achievements
Radim Vrbata proudly represented the Czech Republic in several international tournaments:
- He won a gold medal at the 2001 World Junior Championships.
- He won another gold medal at the 2005 World Championships.
