Lukáš Krajíček

Lukáš Krajíček (Czech pronunciation: [ˈlukaːʃ ˈkrajiːtʃɛk], born March 11, 1983) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman. He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers, in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for HC Dinamo Minsk and for HC Oceláři Třinec of the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

Lukáš Krajíček
Krajíček with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009
Born	(1983-03-11) March 11, 1983 (age 42) Prostějov, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Florida Panthers Vancouver Canucks Tampa Bay Lightning Philadelphia Flyers HC Oceláři Třinec HC Dinamo Minsk
National team	Czech Republic
NHL draft	24th overall, 2001 Florida Panthers
Playing career	2002–2020

Playing career

Krajíček played major junior in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Peterborough Petes. He posted 35 points in his draft year and was chosen in the first round, 24th overall, by the Florida Panthers in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He remained with the Petes for another two seasons and improved to 53 points in 52 games in 2002–03, his final year of junior.

Krajíček split the 2003–04 season between the Panthers and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, then played the entirety of 2004–05 with the Rampage due to the NHL lockout. When he returned, he earned a full-time roster spot with the Panthers and posted 16 points in 67 games.

In the off-season, Krajíček was involved in a blockbuster multi-player trade that sent him, Roberto Luongo, and a sixth round draft pick in 2006 to the Vancouver Canucks for Todd Bertuzzi, Alex Auld, and Bryan Allen. He matched his 16-point output of the previous season with the Canucks in 2006–07, but had his second season in Vancouver shortened due to injury.

On October 6, 2008, Krajíček was traded along with prospect Juraj Šimek to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Michel Ouellet and Shane O'Brien.^[1]

Krajíček signed with the Philadelphia Flyers on January 31, 2010 after being released by Tampa Bay a week earlier.^[2]

On May 27, 2011,^[3] Krajíček signed with HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL and quickly became one of the best defenceman there, forming the first pairing with the young player Dmitri Korobov. He is appreciated for his reliable and smart play in the defensive zone. Krajíček was awarded the title of the best defenceman of the first week of the 2011–12 KHL season.^[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998–99	HC ZPS–Barum Zlín	CZE U20		48	8	18	26	40		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Detroit Compuware Ambassadors	NAHL		53	5	22	27	61		5	0	1	1	18
2000–01	Peterborough Petes	OHL		61	8	27	35	54		7	0	5	5	0
2001–02	Peterborough Petes	OHL		55	10	32	42	56		6	0	5	5	6
2001–02	Florida Panthers	NHL		5	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Peterborough Petes	OHL		52	11	42	53	42		7	0	3	3	0
2002–03	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		3	0	1	1	0		3	0	0	0	0
2003–04	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		54	5	12	17	24		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Florida Panthers	NHL		18	1	6	7	12		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		78	2	22	24	57		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Florida Panthers	NHL		67	2	14	16	50		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		78	3	13	16	64		12	0	2	2	12
2007–08	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		39	2	9	11	36		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		71	2	17	19	48		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		23	0	1	1	21		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		15	0	6	6	8		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		27	1	1	2	14		22	0	3	3	8
2010–11	HC Oceláři Třinec	ELH		48	6	14	20	84		18	3	4	7	22
2011–12	Dinamo Minsk	KHL		40	2	12	14	34		4	0	0	0	6
2012–13	Dinamo Minsk	KHL		51	1	6	7	66		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Dinamo Minsk	KHL		52	2	14	16	63		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Dinamo Minsk	KHL		51	2	16	18	33		5	1	0	1	4
2015–16	Dinamo Minsk	KHL		44	0	8	8	58		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Dinamo Minsk	KHL		18	0	4	4	16		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	HC Oceláři Třinec	ELH		23	1	5	6	8		6	0	4	4	6
2017–18	HC Oceláři Třinec	ELH		40	5	11	16	28		18	3	11	14	6
2018–19	HC Oceláři Třinec	ELH		31	5	16	21	20		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	HC Oceláři Třinec	ELH		19	1	7	8	10		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				328	11	61	72	245		34	0	5	5	20
ELH totals				161	18	53	71	150		42	6	19	25	34
KHL totals				257	7	60	67	270		9	1	0	1	10

Medal record
Representing  Czech Republic
World Championships
	2006 Riga
	2011 Bratislava
	2012 Helsinki

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002	Czech Republic	WJC	8th		7	1	3	4	6
2003	Czech Republic	WJC	5th		6	2	2	4	2
2006	Czech Republic	WC			9	0	0	0	8
2011	Czech Republic	WC			8	0	1	1	8
2012	Czech Republic	WC			10	1	3	4	6
2014	Czech Republic	OG	11th		4	0	0	0	0
Junior totals					13	3	5	8	8
Senior totals					31	1	4	5	22

Transactions

• June 23, 2001 — Drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 1st round, 24th overall.
• June 23, 2006 — Traded to the Vancouver Canucks with Roberto Luongo and a 6th round pick in 2006 for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alex Auld.
• September 8, 2006 — Signed a one-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks.
• July 2, 2007 — Signed a two-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks as a restricted free agent.
• October 6, 2008 — Traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning along with Juraj Šimek in exchange for Michel Ouellet and Shane O'Brien.
• January 30, 2010 — Signed to an unrestricted free agent contract by the Philadelphia Flyers.