Vladimír Vůjtek

Vladimír Vůjtek (born 17 February 1972) is a Czech former professional ice hockey right wing. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round, 73rd overall, of the 1991 NHL entry draft.

Career Vůjtek played two seasons for HC Vítkovice in the Czechoslovak Extraliga before coming to North America to play for the Western Hockey League's Tri-City Americans. He made his NHL debut with Montreal in the 1991–92 season, appearing in two games before returning the Americans. Vůjtek joined the Edmonton Oilers' organization before the 1992–93 season, and played 70 games with the Oilers over two seasons. During the 1994-95 NHL lockout, Vůjtek returned to Europe. He remained in the Extraliga and the SM-liiga of Finland until 1997, where he played for HC Vitkovice for two seasons and spent one season skating with Ässät.

Vůjtek returned to the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1997–98 season. He played thirty games with the Lightning before being diagnosed with having the Epstein-Barr virus, which took a toll on his energy and eventually had him miss the remainder of the season. After being unsigned by the Lightning, Vůjtek returned to the HC Vitkovice organization for another season.

On 19 July 1999, Vůjtek signed with the Atlanta Thrashers. During a preseason game against the New York Rangers, Vujtek was accidentally cut by the skate of forward Valeri Kamensky and was rushed to the hospital. He received over 100 stitches on his right cheek and underwent over two and a half hours of plastic surgery. After three regular season games with the Thrashers, Vůjtek would again return to the Czech Republic.

After two seasons with HC Sparta Praha of Extraliga and a successful season with HPK Hameenlinna, Vůjtek returned to the NHL for a third time. Vujtek was signed on 15 July 2002 by then-General Manager Craig Patrick of the Pittsburgh Penguins to a one-year, $600,000 contract. it did not translate into regular season success. Vůjtek opened the 2002-03 NHL season on the second line working with linemates Alexei Kovalev and Ville Nieminen. After five games, where Vůjtek recorded one assist, Vůjtek requested his release.

In his NHL career Vůjtek appeared in 110 games scoring seven goals and adding 30 assists.

Vůjtek returned to Europe after his release from the Penguins, where he would play several seasons in the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Switzerland. Vůjtek initially retired after the 2005–06 season after his hometown team HC Vitkovice did not offer him a contract. HC Vitkovice at the time was coached by his father, Vladimír Vůjtek Sr.

Vůjtek skated his final season in the Extraliga with HC Oceláři Třinec, where he scored nine points in twenty-four games.

Retirement Vůjtek retired after the 2006–07 season. He is now a player agent for Eurohockey Services, co-managing the agency with former Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Michal Sivek.

Personal His father, Vladimír Vůjtek Sr., is a head coach with 27 years experience of head coaching experience with Slovak national ice hockey team and teams in the Extraliga and in Russia with both the Russian Superleague and the KHL

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1988–89 TJ Vítkovice TCH 3 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1989–90 TJ Vítkovice TCH 22 3 4 7 — 7 4 3 7 — 1990–91 TJ Vítkovice TCH 26 7 4 11 16 — — — — — 1990–91 Tri–City Americans WHL 37 26 18 44 25 7 2 3 5 4 1991–92 Tri–City Americans WHL 53 41 61 102 114 — — — — — 1991–92 Montreal Canadiens NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1992–93 Edmonton Oilers NHL 30 1 10 11 8 — — — — — 1992–93 Cape Breton Oilers AHL 20 10 9 19 14 1 0 0 0 0 1993–94 Edmonton Oilers NHL 40 4 15 19 14 — — — — — 1994–95 Cape Breton Oilers AHL 30 10 11 21 30 — — — — — 1994–95 Las Vegas Thunder IHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1994–95 HC Vítkovice ELH 18 5 8 13 51 — — — — — 1995–96 HC Vítkovice ELH 26 6 7 13 42 4 1 1 2 0 1996–97 Ässät SM-l 50 27 31 58 48 4 1 2 3 2 1997–98 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 30 2 4 6 16 — — — — — 1997–98 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 2 1 2 3 0 — — — — — 1998–99 HC Vítkovice ELH 46 19 30 49 65 — — — — — 1999–00 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1999–00 HC Sparta Praha ELH 29 12 19 31 14 8 2 3 5 10 2000–01 HC Sparta Praha ELH 38 11 18 29 28 13 3 6 9 4 2001–02 HPK SM-l 45 19 39 58 38 8 4 7 11 6 2002–03 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 5 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2002–03 HC Vítkovice ELH 6 1 5 6 4 — — — — — 2002–03 Severstal Cherepovets RSL 16 7 14 21 12 12 2 3 5 8 2003–04 HPK SM-l 30 9 16 25 86 — — — — — 2003–04 Khimik Voskresensk RSL 12 2 1 3 4 — — — — — 2004–05 HC Vítkovice ELH 26 14 5 19 16 10 4 4 8 12 2005–06 HC Forward–Morges SUI.2 20 13 16 29 59 — — — — — 2005–06 ZSC Lions NLA 4 0 2 2 4 — — — — — 2005–06 HC Vítkovice Steel ELH 3 0 2 2 2 4 1 0 1 0 2006–07 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 24 3 6 9 8 — — — — — NHL totals 110 7 30 37 38 — — — — — ELH totals 216 71 100 171 230 39 11 14 25 26 SM-l totals 125 55 86 141 172 12 5 9 14 8

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1997 Czech Republic WC 8 7 7 14 31 Senior totals 8 7 7 14 31

Awards WHL (West) First All-Star Team 91/92 CHL Third All-Star Team 91/92 World Championship All-Star Team 96/97 World Championship Bronze Medal 96/97 World Championship Most Goals 96/97 World Championship Most Points 96/97 Czech Extraliga Champion 99/00 SM-liiga All-Star Team 01/02 SM-liiga Bronze Medal 01/02 SM-liiga Player of the Month 01/02