Václav Varaďa

Václav Varaďa (Czech pronunciation: [ˈvaːtslaf ˈvaraɟa]; born April 26, 1976) is a Czech former professional ice hockey player and current coach. He formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) in a ten-year span. In his professional career, he has previously played for the Buffalo Sabres and the Ottawa Senators. Varaďa was known for his physicality in a third or fourth line role.

Václav Varaďa
Václav Varaďa
Born (1976-04-26) April 26, 1976
Vsetín, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa Senators
NHL Draft 89th overall, 1994
San Jose Sharks
Playing career 19922014

Playing career

Varaďa spent his young years with the Czech League from 1992 to 1994, and that year he became drafted. To get closer to earn a spot in the NHL, Varaďa moved up to the Western Hockey League (WHL), and then the NHL's affiliate, the American Hockey League (AHL). He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in a deal for Doug Bodger, to Varaďa's original team, the San Jose Sharks. Rotating from the AHL for a few years, he created a reputation as a pest and a solid checking line player.

He played some of his best hockey for the Buffalo Sabres during their trip to the Stanley Cup finals amassing 24 assists, three shy of his professional career. Despite the large help of Dominik Hašek, the Sabres lost to the Dallas Stars in six games by a controversial goal by winger Brett Hull.

He was later traded to the Ottawa Senators for Jakub Klepiš before the 2003 trade deadline in an attempt by the Senators to become a tougher and gritty team, en route to the Senators' first Eastern Conference championship series against the defensive-minded team, New Jersey Devils. In a dramatic seven game series, New Jersey came out on top to eventually win the Stanley Cup.

After spending his career with the Vítkovice of the Czech League during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Varaďa spent one more year with the Senators. In a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Varaďa was ready to check defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo skating down to the Senators' end. Varaďa collided with him, then Colaiacovo spun into the boards, hard enough for a concussion. After taken off by a stretcher, there were fans complaining about an intent to injure, especially with Colaiacovo's history of serious injuries. However, video has shown Colaiacovo was skating hard enough to actually rebound off Varaďa.

Once the playoffs came for the heavily-favoured Senators, the team fell to the Sabres in a five-game series, with Varaďa only totaling two assists. In August 2006, Varaďa signed with HC Davos of the Swiss National League A (NLA).

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1991–92 HC Kopřivnice CSSR U18 29371047
1992–93 TJ Vítkovice CSSR 10000
1993–94 HC Vítkovice ELH 26681412 31014
1994–95 Tacoma Rockets WHL 68503888108 443711
1995–96 Kelowna Rockets WHL 59394685100 633616
1995–96 Buffalo Sabres NHL 10000
1995–96 Rochester Americans AHL 53034
1996–97 Buffalo Sabres NHL 50002
1996–97 Rochester Americans AHL 5323254881 1016727
1997–98 Buffalo Sabres NHL 27561115 1534718
1997–98 Rochester Americans AHL 4530265674
1998–99 Buffalo Sabres NHL 727243161 2154914
1999–00 HC Vítkovice ELH 523512
1999–00 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7610273762 50008
2000–01 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7510213181 130448
2001–02 Buffalo Sabres NHL 767162382
2002–03 Buffalo Sabres NHL 44741123
2002–03 Ottawa Senators NHL 112688 1824618
2003–04 Ottawa Senators NHL 30551026 71124
2004–05 HC Vítkovice ELH 448192783 1133635
2005–06 Ottawa Senators NHL 765162150 802212
2006–07 HC Davos NLA 25641026
2007–08 SC Langnau NLA 3712203256
2008–09 HC Vítkovice Steel ELH 16551022 42242
2009–10 HC Vítkovice Steel ELH 19281012
2009–10 HC Kometa Brno ELH 1444810
2010–11 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 5112253742 18291138
2011–12 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 16671320 50224
2011–12 HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi CZE.2 52024
2012–13 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 5114233760 1031410
2013–14 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 3645928 10000
ELH totals 27863107170301 5211172893
NHL totals 49358125183410 8711193082

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1994 Czech Republic EJC 5 3 3 6 6
1995 Czech Republic WJC 7 6 4 10 25
1996 Czech Republic WJC 6 5 1 6 8
2000 Czech Republic WC 9 2 4 6 6
2005 Czech Republic WC 9 1 0 1 2
Junior totals 18 14 8 22 39
Senior totals 18 3 4 7 8
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