# Vlastimil Kroupa

Vlastimil Kroupa (born April 27, 1975) is a retired Czech professional ice hockey defenceman. Chosen in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, 45th overall, by the San Jose Sharks, Kroupa played in parts of 5 seasons with the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils. A tall and skilled defenceman, Kroupa was known for a puck-moving transitional style and a heavy point shot. However, he struggled with the longer NHL season (in comparison to Europe), as well as the more rugged and tough physical aspects of the North American game. After several seasons in the late 1990s spent mostly in the AHL refining his game, Kroupa elected to return to play in his native Czech Republic before the start of the 2000–01 season.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1989–90 | HC Litvínov | CSSR U16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | HC Litvínov | CSSR U16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | HC Litvínov | CSSR U18 | 37 | 7 | 12 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | HC Litvínov | CZE U18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | HC Litvínov | CSSR | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1993–94 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 27 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 21 |
| 1993–94 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 39 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994–95 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1994–95 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 51 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 49 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 22 |
| 1995–96 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 27 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 39 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 1996–97 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 35 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996–97 | Kentucky Thoroughblades | AHL | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 71 | 5 | 29 | 34 | 48 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 1998–99 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 77 | 6 | 32 | 38 | 52 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999–00 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–00 | Moskitos Essen | DEL | 48 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000–01 | Sparta Praha | CZE | 47 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 32 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 22 |
| 2001–02 | HC Chemopetrol Litvínov | CZE | 48 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | HC Chemopetrol Litvínov | CZE | 50 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | HC Chemopetrol Litvínov | CZE | 49 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | HC Chemopetrol Litvínov | CZE | 45 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2005–06 | HC Oceláři Třinec | CZE | 52 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 2006–07 | HC Oceláři Třinec | CZE | 52 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 80 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 26 |
| 2007–08 | HC Oceláři Třinec | CZE | 28 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | HC Litvínov | CZE | 52 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 54 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| 2009–10 | HC Litvínov | CZE | 50 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | HC Litvínov | CZE | 26 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — |
| AHL totals | AHL totals | AHL totals | 245 | 59 | 98 | 157 | 494 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 57 |
| CZE totals | CZE totals | CZE totals | 509 | 38 | 71 | 109 | 616 | 37 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 76 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 105 | 4 | 19 | 23 | 66 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 25 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1993 | Czech Republic | EJC | | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 1995 | Czech Republic | WJC | | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| 1997 | Czech Republic | WC | | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 13 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 14 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 |