Frantisek Kucera
Jersey Number: 3
Player information for Frantisek Kucera
Position
Defense
Height
6'2" (188cm)
Born
February 3, 1968
Number
3
Shoots
Right
Weight
215 lbs (98kg)
Birthplace
Prague, CZE
Years in Columbus
1
Player Images
Player Career Notes
- Spent one season in Columbus as part of the club’s inaugural team in 2000-01, notching 2-5-7 and 12 penalty minutes in 48 games.
- Skated in the Blue Jackets’ first ever game on Oct. 7, 2000 vs. Chicago and tallied his first goal with the club on Nov. 14 vs. Dallas (Ed Belfour).
- Finished his nine-year NHL career with 24-95-119 and 251 penalty minutes in 465 games with the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Hartford Whalers and Chicago Blackhawks in two different league stints from 1990-2002.
- Made his NHL debut with Chicago on Oct. 4, 1990 vs. the New York Rangers and scored his first career goal on Nov. 14, 1990 at Detroit (Tim Cheveldae).
- Had career highs in goals and points with 5-16-21 in 76 contests split between Chicago and Hartford in 1993-94 and set a career high in assists the following campaign with 3-17-20 in 48 appearances with the Whalers.
- Also played in the International Hockey League (1990-92; 1996-97) and American Hockey League (1996-97) while in North America.
- Played professionally in Czechoslovakia from 1987-90 as well as the Czech Republic from 1997-2000 and 2002-05, spending the final four years of his career with HC Slavia Praha in the Czech league from 2002-05.
- Represented his country on the international stage on several occasions, fostering a decorated career. Appeared in the 1998 Olympic Games (gold) along with five IIHF World Championship events (1989, 1994, 1998-2000), one Canada Cup (1991) and two IIHF World Junior Championships (1987-88).
- Played his junior hockey in Czechoslovakia’s junior league with HC Sparta Praha U18 for three seasons from 1983-87.
- Became an assistant coach with HC Letnany’s junior team in Czechia in 2008-09 and served as a head coach with Elite Hockey Program U18 in the North American Prospects Hockey League in 2017-18.
- Served as President of HC Letci Letnany, a professional hockey team in the Czech Republic, from 2016-20.
CBJ Career Regular Season Stats
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-2001 | 48 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -5 | 12 | 51 |
| Totals | 48 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -5 | 12 | 51 |
Transaction History
- Drafted by Chicago in the fourth-round, 77th overall, in the 1986 NHL Draft.
- Signed with Columbus as a free agent on July 7, 2000.
- Traded to Pittsburgh in exchange of a sixth-round pick in the 2001 NHL Draft on Mar. 13, 2001.