Radim Vrbata played in his 1,000th career NHL game on March 9th while reaching the mark with another notable accomplishment in tow, as the NHL’s current leader in all-time shootout goals with 45 to his name.
Vrbata, just the 308th player to achieve the 1,000-game mark, began his journey after he was selected in the 7th round by the Colorado Avalanche at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft in Boston.
He made his NHL debut on Nov. 20, 2001 on the road at Madison Square Garden, when he tallied two assists to put up two power play points.
The six-foot-one forward has played for six NHL teams: the Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, and the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes — where he has spent three separate tenures.
Vrbata, who hails from the Czech Republic has represented his homeland on numerous occasions, earning gold at the 2001 World Junior Championships, and again in 2005 at the World Championship. He also bears the unique distinction of getting to play two NHL games in his home country at the 2008 NHL Premiere in Prague, roughly an hour from his hometown of Mlada Boleslav.
Vrbata hit career highs with the Canucks in 2015, making his first All-Star Game appearance while netting 31 goals and 32 assists for a career-best 63 points.
2016 signaled a reunion with the Coyotes franchise — one that has been joyous for both fans and Vrbata alike — as he’s set a new career high in assists already with 33 to-date this season. A valuable player who reached the 2017 NHL Trade Deadline amid a 10-game point streak, Vrbata remained in the desert, and was bestowed an “A” on his chest on March 2nd.
Vrbata brings 602 points from 274 goals and 328 assists in the NHL to his 1,000th game, and has also skated in 42 career Stanley Cup playoff games totaling 8-10—18. A sign of his durability, he has played in at least 76 regular season games in nine seasons.
He will be honoured for the milestone in Arizona at Gila River Arena in a matchup against the Ottawa Senators on March 18.
