Tomáš Kopecký
Two-time Stanley Cup champion with Detroit and Chicago.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Tomáš Kopecký (born 5 February 1982) is a Slovak former professional ice hockey forward who played in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers. He won the Stanley Cup twice: first with Detroit in 2008, then with Chicago in 2010.
Drafted by the Red Wings in 2000, Kopecký spent two seasons in junior hockey with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL before turning pro in the AHL. He played for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and then the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he spent four seasons before making his NHL debut late in the 2005–06 season—his only game that year—on February 28, 2006, against the San Jose Sharks.
In the 2006–07 season, Kopecký broke his clavicle after losing his footing near the Chicago blue line and being fallen on by defenseman Jim Vandermeer. He had surgery the next day and was limited to 26 games. He originally wore number 28 with Detroit but switched to 82 after the team signed free agent defenseman Brian Rafalski.
On April 3, 2008, 77 games into the 2007–08 season, Kopecký tore his ACL in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He missed the final five regular-season games and the entire playoffs, but the Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games to win the Stanley Cup on June 4, 2008. The following season, he recorded 6 goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 79 games. Detroit returned to the Stanley Cup Final but lost to Pittsburgh in seven games; Kopecký played in eight playoff games that year, scoring no goals and one assist, and did not appear in the Finals.
On July 1, 2009, Kopecký signed a two-year, $1.2 million-per-season deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. In the 2009–10 season, he played 74 games, posting 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points, with 28 penalty minutes, two game-winning goals, and a 10.5% shooting percentage, mostly on the fourth line. During the 2010 playoffs, he scored a key goal in the Western Semifinals against Vancouver. After being a healthy scratch for all four games of the Western Conference Finals sweep of San Jose, he replaced injured forward Andrew Ladd and scored the game-winning goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against Philadelphia. Though Ladd returned, head coach Joel Quenneville kept Kopecký in the lineup for the entire six-game series—his third straight Finals appearance with two different teams.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1982-02-05
- Birth Place
- Ilava, Czechoslovakia
- Position
- Forward
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 3
- Weight Lb
- 209
- Ntl Team
- SVK
- Played For
- HK Dukla Trenčín / Detroit Red Wings / Chicago Blackhawks / Florida Panthers / HC Oceláři Třinec / HC Slovan Bratislava
- Draft
- 38th overall
- Draft Year
- 2000
- Draft Team
- Detroit Red Wings
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Kopecký was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2000 NHL entry draft and played junior hockey with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He turned professional in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and later the Grand Rapids Griffins, spending four seasons with the Griffins before making his NHL debut with the Red Wings on 28 February 2006 against the San Jose Sharks. During the 2006–07 season, he suffered a broken clavicle after losing his footing and hitting the boards against the Chicago Blackhawks, limiting him to 26 games. In the 2007–08 season, he tore his ACL on 3 April 2008, missing the remainder of the season and playoffs, but still won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings on 4 June 2008.
On 1 July 2009, Kopecký signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. In the 2009–10 season, he played 74 games, posting 21 points, and scored a game-winning goal in game one of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final against the Philadelphia Flyers after being a healthy scratch for the Western Conference Finals. He won his second Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks on 9 June 2010. The following season, he recorded career highs in games played (81), goals (15), assists (27), and points (42). He was traded to the Florida Panthers on 27 June 2011 and signed a four-year, $12 million contract. With the Panthers, he played his 500th NHL game on 29 December 2013. His career was affected by a concussion suffered at the 2014 Winter Olympics, which ended his 2013–14 season early.
Reader's Guide
Kopecký's career is defined by his role as a depth forward who contributed to championship teams. He won the Stanley Cup in consecutive appearances with two different teams: the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. His most notable moment came in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, where after being a healthy scratch for the Western Conference Finals, he replaced an injured Andrew Ladd and scored the game-winning goal in game one. He finished that postseason with six points in 17 games. His 2010–11 season with the Blackhawks was a breakout, as he set career highs in goals, assists, and points while playing on various lines. After being traded to the Florida Panthers, he helped the team reach the playoffs for the first time since 2000 in 2012, though they lost in the first round. A concussion at the 2014 Winter Olympics cut short his 2013–14 season and effectively ended his productive NHL tenure. Kopecký's career illustrates the value of versatile forwards who can step into key roles during playoff runs.
Did You Know?
- Kopecký won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 despite missing the playoffs due to a torn ACL.
- Kopecký recorded his first career four-point game on 30 November 2010 against the St. Louis Blues.
- He played his 500th NHL game on 29 December 2013 as a member of the Florida Panthers.
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