Robert Lang Robert Lang ( born December 19 , 1970 ) is a Czech professional ice hockey centre who is currently an unrestricted free agent . Playing career . A native of Czechoslovakia , Lang began his career in the Czechoslovak Extraliga as an eighteen - year old with HC Litvínov . After scoring 15 points in 32 games in 1989 – 90 , his second season with HC Litvínov , he was drafted 133rd overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft . Lang returned to play another two seasons in the Extraliga before debuting with the Kings in 1992 – 93 . He played the majority of his first two seasons in the International Hockey League with the Kings ' minor league affiliate , the Phoenix Roadrunners . Due to the lockout - shortened 1994 – 95 season , Lang returned to HC Litvínov ( now of the Czech Extraliga ) for 16 games , scoring 23 points . When NHL play resumed , he landed a full - time roster spot with the Kings . He tallied 22 points in 68 games in 1995 – 96 before returning to the Czech Extraliga to play for HC Sparta Praha . After a brief hiatus from the NHL , Lang returned after one season in Europe , joining the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent on September 2 , 1997 . He was subsequently bounced back and forth between the Penguins and Boston Bruins for a couple of months before he stuck with the Penguins . He remained with the Penguins , joining fellow Czech Jaromir Jagr and increasing his points total in each of his first four seasons with the team . In 2000 – 01 , he scored a career - high 32 goals , 48 assists and 80 points in 82 games . That season , the Penguins reached the Eastern Conference finals , but were defeated in five games by the New Jersey Devils . Lang added 8 points in 16 playoff games . After the 2001 – 02 season , Lang became an unrestricted free agent and signed with the Washington Capitals . In Washington , he was re - united with Jagr , who had been traded to the Capitals the year before . He scored 69 points in his first season with Washington , second in team scoring to Jagr . During the 2003 – 04 season , Lang was enjoying another career year and recorded his first career hat trick on November 12 , 2003 . He was leading the NHL in scoring when he was traded to the Stanley Cup - contending Detroit Red Wings for prospect Tomas Fleischmann , a first - round draft choice in 2004 and a fourth - round draft choice in 2006 . This marked the first time in NHL history that a player was traded while leading the league in points . Shortly after the trade , he was sidelined with a broken rib on March 8 . Missing 13 games , he surrendered the NHL scoring lead to Martin St . Louis and finished with 79 points in 69 games , one point shy of his career - high set in 2000 – 01 and ninth overall in the league ( his points - per - game of 1 . 14 was identical to St . Louis ' ) . Lang returned to the Red Wings in time for the playoffs , but they were eliminated by the Calgary Flames in the second round . He recorded a career - high 9 points in 12 playoff games . In addition to Lang ' s ninth place finish in league scoring , he had participated in his first NHL All - Star Game in 2004 and was also awarded the Golden Hockey Stick as the top Czech hockey player at the end of the season . Lang remained with the Red Wings until the end of the 2006 – 07 season , but his production dipped each of his remaining campaign in Detroit . Before signing a two - year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks as an unrestricted free agent in the off - season , Lang embarked on another playoff run with the Red Wings in 2007 , but they were halted by the eventual Stanley Cup champions Anaheim Ducks in the semi - finals . Lang recorded 8 points in 18 playoff games . In Chicago , Lang recorded 54 points playing behind rookie standouts Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane ; Lang finished fourth in team scoring . After just one season with the Blackhawks , he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for a second - round draft pick in 2010 ( previously acquired from Toronto ) on September 12 , 2008 . Lang recorded a natural hat trick , the second three - goal effort of his career , in his first season with the Canadiens , against the New York Rangers on January 7 , 2009 , in a 6 - 3 win . He scored his three goals on the powerplay , even - strength , and short - handed in an empty net . Having played 50 straight games for the Canadiens , leading them in goal scoring , powerplay points and second on the team in overall points , Lang suffered an achilles tendon injury , sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season . On September 29 , 2009 , Robert Lang was signed by the Phoenix Coyotes to a 1 - year contract , just days before the start of the 2009 - 2010 NHL season . During this season , Lang recorded 29 points in 64 regular season games while missing the last 17 games of the regular season due to a lower - body injury . His offensive contribution and veteran leadership helped lead the Coyotes to their first playoff berth since the 2001 - 2002 season . The Phoenix Coyotes were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the first round of the 2009 - 2010 playoffs . Lang played in four of the seven games , recording one assist . International play . Lang first debuted internationally with Czechoslovakia in the 1992 Winter Olympics . Lang scored 13 points in 8 games , third in tournament scoring , as Czechoslovakia defeated the United States in the bronze medal game . That same year , Lang competed for Czechoslovakia in the 1992 World Championships , held in his home country . Scoring 4 points in 8 games , Lang captured his second bronze medal with Czechoslovakia . In 1996 , Lang competed with the Czech Republic in his second World Chamionships and won the country ' s first gold medal at the tournament ( Czechoslovakia had won six times previously ) . Lang scored 9 points in 8 games . Later that year , Lang competed in the inaugural World Cup ( replacing the Canada Cup ) , however , the Czechs lost all three round - robin games and did not advance to the medal rounds . Lang failed to register a point . The following year , Lang competed in the 1997 World Championships , defeating Russia in the bronze medal game . Lang scored 2 points in 8 games . In 1998 , Lang competed in his second Winter Olympics , capturing gold on a team with Dominik Hasek and Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Jaromír Jágr . He scored 2 points in 6 games as the Czechs defeated Canada in the semi - finals , then Russia in the final . Four years later , Lang once again suited up for the Czechs in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City . Lang scored 3 points in 4 games , but the Czechs were kept from defending their gold medal , falling to Russia in the quarter - finals . In 2004 , Lang saw his only hockey action of the 2004 – 05 season at the World Cup due to the NHL lockout . The Czechs were defeated 6 - 5 in overtime in the semi - finals against Canada . Competing in his fourth Olympics , Lang tallied 4 assists in 8 games in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin as the Czechs returned to the Olympic medal podium , capturing bronze against Russia .