Tomáš Fleischmann

Lore & Background

Fleischmann began his professional career in the Czech Republic before moving to North America to play for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 2002 but was traded to the Washington Capitals in 2004. After several seasons with the Capitals, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2010, where he scored a hat-trick in his fourth game. He signed a four-year contract with the Florida Panthers in 2011. In the final year of that contract, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in 2015, playing a complementary role and appearing in 14 regular-season games and 6 postseason games. He later played for the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks before retiring.

Reader's Guide

Fleischmann's NHL career spanned over a decade, during which he played for six teams. He was known for his offensive contributions, particularly during his time with the Capitals and Panthers. His most productive season came in 2009–10 with Washington, where he recorded 23 goals and 51 points. However, his career was interrupted by health issues, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli, which caused him to miss significant time. After his playing career ended, he returned to the Florida area and began coaching at youth hockey clinics for the Florida Panthers. His time with the Anaheim Ducks was brief, but he contributed as a depth player during their run to the Conference finals.

Did You Know?

• Fleischmann was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the 2002 NHL entry draft.
• He scored his first NHL hat-trick with the Colorado Avalanche in a 4–3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on December 15, 2010.
• Fleischmann was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Dany Heatley and a 2015 third-round draft pick on February 28, 2015.
• He led the AHL in assists during the Calder Cup playoffs in consecutive seasons (2006 and 2007).