Jaroslav Špaček

Jaroslav Špaček (; born on February 11, 1974 in Rokycany) is a Czech retired professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected 117th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by Florida Panthers. He is currently the assistent coach for the HC Plzeň and for the Czech National Team.
==Club career==
Špaček played junior hockey for the HC Rokycany and made his senior debut in the 1992-93 season with the HC Škoda Plzeň of the 1. NHL. After the end of the 1992-93 season and after the dissolution of the Czechoslovakia, Špaček continued with the HC Škoda Plzeň (later HC Interconnex Plzeň and even later HC ZKZ Plzeň).
In 1997, Špaček moved to Sweden and played there one season for Färjestad BK of the Elitserien.
In 1998, Špaček signed with the Florida Panthers of the NHL and in his first season in the North America, Špaček played 63 games for the Panthers and 14 games for the Beast of New Haven of the AHL. 
In the next season, Špaček played only for the Panthers. He played in 82 games in the regular season and in 4 games in the play-offs and he scored 36 points.
Špaček began the 2000-01 season with the Panthers, but was traded early in the season to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Špaček also began the 2001-02 season with Blackhawks. Close to the trade deadline, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He finished there the season and also played there next two years.
During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Špaček played for HC Lasselsberger Plzeň and HC Slavia Praha of the Extraliga.
For the 2005-06 season, Špaček signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. On January 26, 2006, the Chicago Blackhawks traded Špaček to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Tony Salmelainen. In 2005–06, Špaček was part of the Cinderella Edmonton Oilers team that made a run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. However, the Oilers lost in Game 7 of the finals to the Carolina Hurricanes. Špaček had three goals and 11 assists in the 2006 Playoffs. He was only one victory away of joining the Triple Gold Club.
On July 5, 2006, Špaček signed a three-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres. In the 2006–07 season, he helped the Sabres reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Špaček was named an alternate captain for the month of December 2007 and captain for the month of January under the Sabres 2007–08 rotating captain and alternate captains system. In the 2008–09 season, Špaček tied a career-high with 45 points in 80 games for the Sabres. 
On July 1, 2009, Špaček signed a three-year contract worth $11.5 million with the Montréal Canadiens.
In the final year of his contract in the 2011–12 season, on December 9, 2011, Montréal traded Špaček to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenceman Tomáš Kaberle.
A free agent, and with the 2012–13 NHL lockout in effect well into the 2012–13 season, Špaček effectively announced his retirement on November 19, 2012. 
Špaček, as the assistant coach of the HC Plzeň, was forced into playing again in the final series of the Tipsport Extraliga due to injuries to Plzeň's defencemen, and he helped Plzeň to win its first-ever Tipsport Extraliga title.
== International career ==
Špaček played as a junior for the Czech Republic at the 1994 World Junior Championship.
He was also a part of the gold-winning team at the 1998 Olympics.
He also took a part at the "golden hattrick" of the Czech Republic winning gold medals at the 1999 and 2001 World Championship.
In 2002, Špaček played at both 2002 Olympics and 2002 World Championship.
He also participated at the 2003 and 2004 World Championships and at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
In 2005, Špaček won his third World Championship gold medal at the 2005 World Championship.
Last time he represented the Czech Republic was at the 2006 Olympics where the Czech Republic won the bronze medal.
==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
1992–93 	HC Plzeň 	CZE 	 	16 	1 	3 	4 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1993–94 	HC Plzeň 	CZE 	 	34 	2 	10 	12 	0 	 	4 	0 	2 	2 	0
1994–95 	HC Plzeň 	CZE 	 	41 	5 	8 	13 	16 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1995–96 	HC Plzeň 	CZE 	 	40 	3 	10 	13 	42 	 	3 	0 	1 	1 	4
1996–97 	HC Plzeň 	CZE 	 	52 	9 	29 	38 	44 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1997–98 	Färjestads BK 	SEL 	 	45 	10 	16 	26 	63 	 	12 	2 	5 	7 	14
1998–99 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	63 	3 	12 	15 	28 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1998–99 	Beast of New Haven 	AHL 	 	14 	4 	8 	12 	15 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999–00 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	82 	10 	26 	36 	53 	 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
2000–01 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	12 	2 	1 	3 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2000–01 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 	 	50 	5 	18 	23 	20 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001–02 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 	 	60 	3 	10 	13 	29 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001–02 	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL 	 	14 	2 	3 	5 	24 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL 	 	81 	9 	36 	45 	70 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2003–04 	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL 	 	58 	5 	17 	22 	45 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2004–05 	HC Plzen 	CZE 	 	30 	3 	8 	11 	26 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2004–05 	HC Slavia Praha 	CZE 	 	17 	4 	9 	13 	29 	 	7 	0 	2 	2 	8
2005–06 	Chicago Blackhawks 	NHL 	 	45 	7 	17 	24 	72 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2005–06 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 	 	31 	5 	14 	19 	24 	 	24 	3 	11 	14 	24
2006–07 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	 	65 	5 	16 	21 	62 	 	16 	0 	0 	0 	10
2007–08 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	 	60 	9 	23 	32 	42 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2008–09 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	 	80 	8 	37 	45 	38 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2009–10 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	74 	3 	18 	21 	50 	 	10 	1 	3 	4 	6
2010–11 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	59 	1 	15 	16 	45 	 	7 	0 	0 	0 	4
2011–12 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	12 	0 	3 	3 	2 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2011–12 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	34 	5 	7 	12 	6 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2012–13 	HC Plzeň 	CZE 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	 	3 	0 	1 	1 	0
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	880 	82 	273 	355 	618 	 	61 	4 	14 	18 	44
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
 
Year 	Team 	Comp 	GP	G	A 	Pts	PIM
1994 	Czech Republic 	WJC 	7 	2	0 	2 	8
1998 	Czech Republic 	OG 	6 	0	0 	0 	4
1999 	Czech Republic 	WC 	12	1	5 	6 	8
2001 	Czech Republic 	WC 	9 	0	3 	3 	4
2002 	Czech Republic 	OG 	4 	0	0 	0 	0
2002 	Czech Republic 	WC 	7 	1	2 	3 	8
2003 	Czech Republic 	WC 	9 	1	5 	6 	4
2004 	Czech Republic 	WC 	6 	2	1 	3 	6
2004 	Czech Republic 	WCH 	4 	0	0 	0 	0
2005 	Czech Republic 	WC 	9 	1	0 	1 	0
2006 	Czech Republic 	OG 	8 	0	1 	1 	2
Junior int'l totals	Junior int'l totals	Junior int'l totals	7 	2	0 	2 	8
Senior int'l totals	Senior int'l totals	Senior int'l totals	74	6	17	23 	36
== Coaching and team staff career ==
Role 	Team 	Years
Assistant coach	HC Plzeň 	2012 - 2016, 2017 - present
Assistant coach	Czech National TeamSpacek named assistant coach	2014 - 2018, 2020 - present
==References==
==External links==
* 
Category:Born in 1974
Category:Beast of New Haven players
Category:Buffalo Sabres captains
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Carolina Hurricanes players
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets players
Category:Czech ice hockey players
Category:Edmonton Oilers players
Category:Färjestad BK players
Category:Florida Panthers draft picks
Category:Florida Panthers players
Category:Montreal Canadiens players
Category:Plzen HC players
Category:Retired in 2013