Robert Reichel

Reichel was selected in the fourth round, 70th overall, by the Calgary Flames.

Robert Reichel (born June 25, 1971) is a Czech former professional ice hockey centre and coach.

In his first two seasons, he recorded 27 points in 1987–88 and 48 points in 1988–89.

He began his career with HC Litvínov of the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League; his 49 goals in 1989–90 was the second highest total in Czechoslovakian history.

Reichel played 11 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons for the Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes and Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 830 career NHL games, he scored 252 goals and 378 assists for 630 points.

He also played with the Frankfurt Lions of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Anticipating future availability of eastern European players to their teams, National Hockey League (NHL) general managers selected several Soviet Bloc players at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

Reichel remained with Litvínov for the 1989–90 season where he had one of the greatest seasons in Czechoslovakian history; in 52 games combined between the regular season and playoffs, Reichel scored 49 goals, the second highest total in the history of the Czechoslovakian First League.

He was named an all-star and forward of the year and finished as runner-up to Dominik Hašek as player of the year.

Upon his departure to Calgary for the 1990–91 NHL season, Reichel was considered Czechoslovakia's top prospect.

He made his NHL debut on October 8, 1990, against the Winnipeg Jets and scored his first point and goal on October 20, against Boston Bruins' goaltender Réjean Lemelin.

Reichel completed his first NHL season with 41 points, then improved to 54 points in 1991–92.

A pair of 40-goal seasons followed as Reichel finished second in team scoring (88 points to Theoren Fleury's 100) in 1992–93 and led the team with 93 points in 1993–94.

A labour dispute resulted in the cancellation of the first half of the 1994–95 NHL season, and Reichel spent the time with the Frankfurt Lions of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

He recorded 43 points in 21 games for Frankfurt before returning to the NHL, where he added 35 points in 48 games for Calgary.

Reichel then became embroiled in a contract dispute with the Flames.

He made C$ 725,000 in 1994–95, and was offered US$1 million to remain with Frankfurt.

Unable to come to terms with Calgary, Reichel returned to Frankfurt for the 1995–96 season.

In 46 games with the Lions, Reichel led the DEL in goals (47), assists (54) and points (101).

Reichel and the Flames resolved their impasse prior to the 1996–97 NHL season and agreed to a three-year, US$4.4 million contract.

He struggled offensively in his return to Calgary, Reichel had only 16 goals and 43 points through 70 games with Calgary, and consequently became the subject of trade rumours.

The Flames sent him to the New York Islanders on March 18, 1997, in exchange for Marty McInnis, Tyrone Garner and a sixth round selection in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

In 12 games with the Islanders to finish the season, Reichel recorded 19 points and finished the year with 53 combined between the two teams.

Reichel played only one full season with the Islanders; he recorded 25 goals and 40 assists in 1997–98, and was traded midway through the 1998–99.

A two-time Olympian, Reichel scored the lone shootout goal to eliminate Canada en route to a gold medal victory for the Czech Republic at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

New York sent Reichel to the Phoenix Coyotes on March 20, 1999, in exchange for Brad Isbister.

The teams also swapped draft picks.

A restricted free agent following the season, Reichel sought a contract worth $3 million per season.

When he was unable to attract interest at that price, Reichel opted to return to Litvínov, now in the Czech Extraliga.

He played two seasons with Litvínov and averaged greater than a point per game.

Reichel once again returned to North America as the Coyotes traded his NHL playing rights to the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with Travis Green and Craig Mills, in exchange for Danny Markov on June 12, 2001.

In his first season with the Maple Leafs, 2001–02, he scored 20 goals – the seventh time in his NHL career he had done so – and 51 points.

His production declined over the following two seasons, recording 42 points in 2002–03 and 30 in 2003–04.

He ended his player career in 2010 in HC Litvínov, where he served as captain of the team.

Internationally, Reichel represented Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic on numerous occasions.

He was an all-star at the European Junior, World Junior and World Championship levels and appeared in Canada Cup and World Cup of Hockey tournaments.

He was a member of three gold and four bronze medal teams at the World Championships.

He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2015.

Reichel began his elite playing career at the age of 16 when he joined CHZ Litvínov of the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League.