Václav Prospal

Václav Prospal
Prospal with the 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
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	1993–2013

Václav "Vinny" Prospal (born February 17, 1975) is a Czech former professional ice hockey player. 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. On January 24, 2014, he announced his retirement from professional hockey.

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. Ironically, 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. The Lightning signed Prospal to a four-year contract on June 30, in a deal worth $14 million overall to the player.

On July 28, 2009, Prospal was bought out from the remaining three years of his contract with the Lightning and became a free agent. On August 16, 2009, Prospal signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the New York Rangers. 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. 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.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993–94	Hershey Bears	AHL		55	14	21	35	38		2	0	0	0	2
1994–95	Hershey Bears	AHL		69	13	32	45	36		2	1	0	1	4
1995–96	Hershey Bears	AHL		68	15	36	51	59		5	2	4	6	2
1996–97	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		63	32	63	95	70		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		18	5	10	15	4		5	1	3	4	4
1997–98	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		41	5	13	18	17		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Ottawa Senators	NHL		15	1	6	7	4		6	0	0	0	0
1998–99	Ottawa Senators	NHL		79	10	26	36	58		4	0	0	0	0
1999–00	Ottawa Senators	NHL		79	22	33	55	40		6	0	4	4	4
2000–01	Ottawa Senators	NHL		40	1	12	13	12		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Florida Panthers	NHL		34	4	12	16	10		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		81	18	37	55	38		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		80	22	57	79	53		11	4	2	6	8
2003–04	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL		82	19	35	54	54		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		81	25	55	80	50		5	0	2	2	0
2006–07	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		82	14	41	55	36		6	1	4	5	4
2007–08	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		62	29	28	57	31		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		18	4	10	14	6		17	3	10	13	6
2008–09	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		82	19	26	45	52		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	New York Rangers	NHL		75	20	38	58	32		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	New York Rangers	NHL		29	9	14	23	8		5	1	0	1	0
2011–12	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		82	16	39	55	36		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	HC České Budějovice	CZE		19	9	14	23	46		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		48	12	18	30	32		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1,108	255	510	765	581		65	10	25	35	26

International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Games
	2006 Torino	Ice hockey
World Championships
	2005 Vienna	Ice hockey
	2000 Saint Petersburg	Ice hockey

See also

• List of NHL players with 1000 games played

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NHL.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

• http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhl-veteran-vinny-prospal-retires-from-pro-hockey/