Vinny Prospal
Jersey Number: 22
Player information for Vinny Prospal
Position
Left Wing
Height
6'2" (188cm)
Born
February 17, 1975
Number
22
Shoots
Left
Weight
191 lbs (87kg)
Birthplace
České Budějovice, CZE
Years in Columbus
2
Player Images
Player Career Notes
- Played the final two seasons of his NHL career in Columbus from 2011-13, contributing 28-57-85 and 68 penalty minutes in 130 games.
- Led Columbus in assists and ranked second in points in 2011-12, recording 16-39-55 while skating in all 82 contests.
- Led the Blue Jackets in assists (tied) and points in 2012-13 with 12-18-30 in 48 games.
- Finished his 16-year NHL career with 255-510-76 and 581 PIM in 1,108 games with the Blue Jackets, NY Rangers, Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers from 1996-2013.
- Ranks fifth all-time in assists and seventh in points among Czech-born players in NHL history.
- Tallied nine campaigns of 50 or more points, including setting a career high with 80 points in 81 appearances with Tampa Bay in 2005-06.
- Led the Czech Republic’s second pro league in assists and points in 2004-05 with 28-60-88 in 39 contests with HC Ceske Budejovice.
- After a six-year playing hiatus, suited up for four games with David Servis Ceske Budejovice of Czech’s third division in 2019-20.
- Represented the Czech Republic on the international stage several times, including the 2006 Olympic Games (bronze medal), the 2004 World Cup, three IIHF World Championships (2000, 2004, 2005) and two IIHF World Junior Championship tournaments (1994, 1995).
- Began his professional career in the American Hockey League, registering 74-152-226 in 255 games over four seasons with the Hershey Bears and Philadelphia Phantoms from 1993-97.
- Named to the AHL First All-Star Team in 1996-97 with Philadelphia after notching 32-63-95 and a plus-32 rating in 63 games to place second in the league in assists and fourth in points.
- Transitioned to hockey operations following his playing career, joining the NY Rangers as a pro scout for the 2013-14 campaign. Served as a head coach for the Tampa Scorpions 14U-16U teams from 2014-17 and head coach of Czechia2’s HC Motor Ceske Budejovice team from 2018-21.
- Has served as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Rochester Americans since 2023.
CBJ Career Regular Season Stats
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2012 | 82 | 16 | 39 | 55 | -11 | 36 | 165 |
| 2012-2013 | 48 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 3 | 32 | 85 |
| Totals | 130 | 28 | 57 | 85 | -8 | 68 | 250 |
Transaction History
- Drafted by Philadelphia in the third-round, 71st overall, in the 1993 NHL Draft
- Signed by Columbus as a free agent on July 23, 2011.