Václav Prospal
Prospal with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009
Born (1975-02-17) February 17, 1975
České Budějovice, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Left wing
Centre
Shot Left
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
Ottawa Senators
Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
New York Rangers
Columbus Blue Jackets
HC České Budějovice
National team  Czech Republic
NHL Draft 71st overall, 1993
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 19932013

Václav "Vinny" Prospal (born February 17, 1975) is a Czech former professional ice hockey player, currently a hockey coach. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets from. 1997 to 2013. He is currently serving as an assistant coach of the Rochester Americans in the American hockey league.

Playing career

Prospal was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, third round, 71st overall. While with the Flyers, Prospal suffered a fractured arm during the 1997 playoffs. Prospal and another player collided during the Flyers' practice session. During the 1997–98 season, Prospal, who was named to the 1998 Czech Olympic hockey team, broke his leg while fighting for the puck with Lance Pitlick during a game with the Ottawa Senators; Prospal was unable to play in the 1998 Winter Olympics. Prospal was traded to the Senators a few months later. During the 2004–05 lockout, Prospal played for his hometown team HC České Budějovice, leading them in scoring and helping the team return to the Czech Extraliga.

Prospal in 2007.

At the beginning of the 2007–08 season, while with the Lightning, Prospal posted 12 goals and 10 assists making it his best career start. On February 25, 2008, Prospal was dealt back to the Flyers for defenseman Alexandre Picard and a 2009 second-round draft pick.

On June 18, 2008, the Lightning acquired the rights to Prospal in exchange for the Nashville Predators' seventh-round pick (previously acquired), 196th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[1] The Lightning signed Prospal to a four-year contract on June 30, in a deal worth $14 million overall to the player.[2]

On July 28, 2009, Prospal was bought out from the remaining three years of his contract with the Lightning and became a free agent.[3] On August 16, 2009, Prospal signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the New York Rangers.[4] He was named an alternate captain of the Rangers on November 3, 2009. On July 1, 2010, Prospal was re-signed by the Rangers to another one-year deal worth $2.1 million.[5] After he was not re-signed in 2011, he agreed to a 1-year $1.75 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2011,[6] followed by one-year, $2.5 million contract for the 2012–13 season. On January 24, 2014, he announced his retirement from professional hockey.[7]

Post-hockey career

Prospal worked as a scout for the New York Rangers until the end of the 2013–14 season. He currently lives with his wife and four children in Tampa, Florida. He also served as an assistant coach for the Czech national team in the World Cup of Hockey in September 2016. Now He is Manager of HC České Budějovice in Czech Extraliga.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1991–92 TJ Motor České Budějovice CSSR U18 3616163212
1992–93 HC České Budějovice CSSR U18 3626315724
1993–94 Hershey Bears AHL 5514213538 20002
1994–95 Hershey Bears AHL 6913324536 21014
1995–96 Hershey Bears AHL 6815365159 52462
1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 18510154 51344
1996–97 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 6332639570
1997–98 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 415131817
1997–98 Ottawa Senators NHL 151674 60000
1998–99 Ottawa Senators NHL 7910263658 40000
1999–00 Ottawa Senators NHL 7922335540 60444
2000–01 Ottawa Senators NHL 401121312
2000–01 Florida Panthers NHL 344121610
2001–02 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 8118375538
2002–03 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 8022577953 114268
2003–04 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 8219355454
2004–05 HC České Budějovice CZE-2 3928608882 1615153032
2005–06 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 8125558050 50220
2006–07 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 8214415536 61454
2007–08 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 6229285731
2007–08 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 18410146 17310136
2008–09 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 8219264552
2009–10 New York Rangers NHL 7520385832
2010–11 New York Rangers NHL 29914238 51010
2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 8216395536
2012–13 HC Mountfield CZE 199142346
2012–13 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 4812183032
NHL totals 1,108255510765581 6510253526

International

Medal record
Representing  Czech Republic
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Torino
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2005 Vienna
Gold medal – first place 2000 Saint Petersburg
European Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Poland
Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
1993 Czech Republic EJC 647112
1994 Czech Republic WJC 711216
1995 Czech Republic WJC 737102
2000 Czech Republic WC 93478
2004 Czech Republic WC 73472
2004 Czech Republic WCH 41340
2005 Czech Republic WC 92684
2006 Czech Republic OLY 84262
Junior totals 208152320
Senior totals 3713193216

See also

References

  1. "Lightning acquire rights to Prospal". Tampa Bay Lightning. 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2014-11-09.
  2. "Lightning sign Roberts and Prospal". USA Today. 2008-06-30. Archived from the original on 2014-10-01. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  3. "Lightning buy out Prospal's contract". ESPN. 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  4. Brooks, Larry (2009-08-16). "Rangers bring in Prospal". New York Post. Archived from the original on 2009-08-19.
  5. "Vaclav Prospal". Rotoworld. 2010-07-01. Archived from the original on 2010-10-14. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  6. "Vaclav Prospal". Scott Howson. 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
  7. "NHL veteran Prospal retires from pro hockey - Sportsnet.ca".
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