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Tomáš Kopecký
Tomas Kopecky 2008.jpg
Kopecký pictured in June 2008 during the Detroit Red Wings championship celebration
Born (1982-02-05) 5 February 1982 (age 43)
Ilava, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Left
Played for HK Dukla Trenčín
Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
Florida Panthers
HC Oceláři Třinec
HC Slovan Bratislava
National team Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia
NHL Draft 38th overall, 2000
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2001–2017

Tomáš Kopecký (born on February 5, 1982) is a former professional ice hockey player from Slovakia. He played as a forward in the National Hockey League (NHL) for teams like the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers.

Tomáš is a two-time Stanley Cup champion. He won his first Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008 and his second with the Blackhawks in 2010.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting with the Detroit Red Wings (2005–2009)

Tomáš Kopecký was chosen by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Before joining the NHL, he played two seasons of junior hockey with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He then played for several years in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Kopecký played four seasons with the Griffins before making his NHL debut with the Red Wings. This happened on February 28, 2006, against the San Jose Sharks. That was his only game for the Red Wings during the 2005–06 season.

On December 14, 2006, Tomáš got injured during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He had to have surgery to fix a broken collarbone. Because of this injury, he played only 26 games in the 2006–07 season.

Later, on April 3, 2008, Kopecký tore a ligament in his knee (called an ACL) during a game. This injury made him miss the end of the 2007–08 season and all the playoff games. Even though he was injured, he won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings on June 4, 2008. They beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

In the 2008–09 season, Kopecký played in 79 games, scoring six goals and making 13 assists. The Red Wings reached the Stanley Cup Finals again, but they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins this time.

Joining the Chicago Blackhawks (2009–2011)

Nick Leddy, Tomas Kopecky, and Steve Ott (5441786833)
Tomáš Kopecký (front) with his Blackhawks teammate Nick Leddy in 2011

On July 1, 2009, Kopecký signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. In the 2009–10 season, he played in 74 games, scoring 10 goals and making 11 assists.

During the 2010 playoffs, Kopecký was a regular player for the Blackhawks. He scored an important goal in Game 1 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers. He played in every game of that series. On June 9, 2010, at age 28, he won his second Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks.

The 2010–11 season was a great one for Kopecký. He played in 81 games, scoring 15 goals and making 27 assists. These were his best numbers for a single season. On November 30, he had his first game with four points (a goal and three assists) in a win against the St. Louis Blues.

The Blackhawks barely made it to the 2011 playoffs. In Game 1 of the first round, Kopecký got a concussion after a hit. He couldn't play for the rest of the series, and the Blackhawks lost in seven games.

Playing for the Florida Panthers (2011–2015)

Panthers vs Blues-8390 (6448604039)
Kopecký playing for the Florida Panthers in November 2011

On June 27, 2011, the Blackhawks traded Kopecký to the Florida Panthers. Two days later, the Panthers signed him to a four-year contract. In the 2011–12 season, Kopecký scored 10 goals and had 22 assists in 80 games. The Panthers made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2000. They lost in the first round to the New Jersey Devils.

The 2012–13 season was shorter because of a lockout. The Panthers did not make the playoffs that year. Even so, Kopecký played well, scoring 15 goals and making 12 assists in 47 games.

On December 29, 2013, Kopecký played his 500th NHL game. On February 15, 2014, he got another concussion during a game at the 2014 Winter Olympics. This injury made him miss the rest of the Olympic tournament and the 2013–14 season for the Panthers.

In the 2014–15 season, Kopecký played 64 games. He was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is given to a player who shows great determination in hockey.

After the NHL

After his contract with the Panthers ended, Kopecký did not sign with another NHL team. On October 22, 2015, he went back to Europe and played for HC Oceláři Třinec in the Czech Republic.

Personal Life

Tomáš is married to Maria, and they have two sons named Jakub (born in 2004) and Tobias (born in 2009).

International Play

Medal record
Representing Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver 2012 Helsinki

Kopecký played for the Slovakia in many international tournaments, including:

  • 2000 World U18 Championships
  • 2000 World Junior Championships
  • 2001 World Junior Championships
  • 2002 World Junior Championships
  • 2010 Winter Olympics
  • 2012 World Championship
  • 2013 World Championship
  • 2014 Winter Olympics
  • 2015 World Championship

Awards and Achievements

  • 2008 Stanley Cup Champion with the Detroit Red Wings
  • 2010 Member of the Slovakia Winter Olympic Team
  • 2010 Stanley Cup Champion with the Chicago Blackhawks
  • 2012 World Championship Silver Medalist
  • 2014 Member of the Slovakia Winter Olympic Team

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1997–98 Dukla Trenčín SVK U20 41 19 22 41 76
1998–99 Dukla Trenčín SVK U20 51 22 18 40 20
1999–2000 Dukla Trenčín SVK U20 14 8 9 17 12
1999–2000 Dukla Trenčín SVK 52 3 4 7 24 5 0 0 0 0
2000–01 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 49 22 28 50 52 5 1 1 2 6
2000–01 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks AHL 1 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 60 34 42 76 94 4 2 1 3 15
2001–02 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks AHL 2 1 1 2 6 2 0 0 0 0
2002–03 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 70 17 21 38 32 14 0 0 0 6
2003–04 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 48 6 6 12 28 1 0 0 0 2
2004–05 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 48 8 8 16 35
2005–06 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1 0 0 0 2
2005–06 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 77 32 40 72 123 16 3 4 7 25
2006–07 Detroit Red Wings NHL 26 1 0 1 22 4 0 0 0 6
2007–08 Detroit Red Wings NHL 77 5 7 12 43
2008–09 Detroit Red Wings NHL 79 6 13 19 46 8 0 1 1 7
2009–10 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 74 10 11 21 28 17 4 2 6 8
2010–11 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 81 15 27 42 60 1 0 0 0 0
2011–12 Florida Panthers NHL 80 10 22 32 32 7 1 0 1 4
2012–13 Dukla Trenčín SVK 4 2 2 4 0
2012–13 Florida Panthers NHL 47 15 12 27 28
2013–14 Florida Panthers NHL 49 4 8 12 18
2014–15 Florida Panthers NHL 64 2 6 8 28
2015–16 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 38 9 9 18 34 5 1 1 2 6
2016–17 HK Dukla Trenčín SVK 5 0 2 2 4
2016–17 HC Slovan Bratislava KHL 15 0 1 1 4
AHL totals 246 64 76 140 224 33 3 4 7 33
NHL totals 578 68 106 174 307 37 5 3 8 25

International Play Statistics

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2000 Slovakia WJC18 5th 1 0 0 0 0
2000 Slovakia WJC 9th 7 0 2 2 4
2001 Slovakia WJC 8th 7 2 2 4 16
2002 Slovakia WJC 8th 7 3 5 8 22
2010 Slovakia OG 4th 7 1 0 1 2
2012 Slovakia WC 2 10 5 1 6 4
2013 Slovakia WC 8th 8 0 2 2 6
2014 Slovakia OG 11th 2 0 0 0 0
2015 Slovakia WC 9th 6 1 1 2 0
Junior totals 22 5 9 14 42
Senior totals 33 7 4 11 12
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