Richard Šmehlík

Richard Šmehlík
Born	(1970-01-23) 23 January 1970 Ostrava, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	222 lb (101 kg; 15 st 12 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Buffalo Sabres Atlanta Thrashers New Jersey Devils
National team	Czech Republic
NHL draft	97th overall, 1990 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	1988–2003

Olympic medal record
Men's Ice Hockey
	1998 Nagano	Ice Hockey
	1992 Albertville	Team

Richard Šmehlík (born 23 January 1970) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the fifth round, 97th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

Šmehlík joined the Sabres for the 1992–93 season, and played there for nine seasons. He left via free agency for the Atlanta Thrashers before the 2002–03 season.

At the trade deadline of the 2002–03 season, Šmehlík was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a draft pick. Šmehlík would go on to win the Stanley Cup that season with the Devils. He retired following the season.

In his NHL career, Šmehlík appeared in 644 games, tallying 49 goals and adding 146 assists. He also appeared in 88 playoff games, scoring 1 goal and recording 14 assists.

Awards

• Bronze Medal at 1992 Winter Olympics (with Czechoslovakia)
• Gold Medal at 1998 Winter Olympics (with Czech Republic)
• 2003 Stanley Cup champion (with New Jersey Devils)

Trivia

• The draft pick the Sabres used to select Šmehlík was acquired from the New York Rangers in exchange for Lindy Ruff. Ruff would later become the Sabres' head coach, and Šmehlík would play under him for five seasons.
• Richard and his wife, Martina, have two daughters: Adela and Jessica.
• Šmehlík appears on the cover of the Czech version of the NHL 2000 video game.
• During the 1999 Stanley Cup finals he was described as "like a human hovercraft... hard to get around!"

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1987–88	TJ Vítkovice	CSSR Jr		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	TJ Vítkovice	CSSR-2		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	TJ Vítkovice	CSSR		28	2	3	5	12		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	TJ Vítkovice	CSSR		44	4	3	7	—		7	1	1	2	—
1990–91	ASD Dukla Jihlava	CSSR		51	4	2	6	22		7	0	1	1	0
1991–92	TJ Vítkovice	CSSR		35	8	5	13	—		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		80	4	27	31	59		8	0	4	4	2
1993–94	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		84	14	27	41	69		7	0	2	2	10
1994–95	HC Vítkovice	CZE		13	5	2	7	12		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		39	4	7	11	46		5	0	0	0	2
1996–97	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		62	11	19	30	43		12	0	2	2	4
1997–98	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		72	3	17	20	62		15	0	2	2	6
1998–99	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		72	3	11	14	44		21	0	3	3	10
1999–00	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		64	2	9	11	50		5	1	0	1	0
2000–01	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		56	3	12	15	4		10	0	1	1	4
2001–02	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		60	3	6	9	22		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		43	2	9	11	16		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	New Jersey Devils	NHL		12	0	2	2	0		5	0	0	0	2
CSSR totals				158	18	13	31	—		14	1	2	3	—
NHL totals				644	49	146	195	415		88	1	14	15	40

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1988	Czechoslovakia	EJC		5	1	1	2	4
1990	Czechoslovakia	WJC		7	0	1	1	4
1991	Czechoslovakia	CC		5	0	1	1	2
1991	Czechoslovakia	WC		8	1	2	3	8
1992	Czechoslovakia	OG		6	0	1	1	2
1992	Czechoslovakia	WC		8	0	0	0	4
1998	Czech Republic	OG		6	0	1	1	4
2002	Czech Republic	OG		4	0	0	0	4
Junior totals				12	1	2	3	8
Senior totals				37	1	5	6	24

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database