Radek Dvoà Âák (born March 9, 1977) is a Czech former professional ice hockey right winger. Dvoà Âák was drafted in the first round of the 1995 NHL entry draft, tenth overall, by the Florida Panthers. A veteran of 1,260 NHL games, Radek has played for the Panthers, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Dvoà Âák began his NHL career as an 18-year-old with the Florida Panthers in the 1995âÂÂ96 season. In 77 games, Dvoà Âák scored 13 goals and 27 points, as the Panthers reached the playoffs for the first time in club history. Dvoà Âák helped the Panthers to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, earning four points in 16 games. He saw his numbers improve in his second season, scoring 18 goals and 39 points in 78 games to finish fourth in team scoring. He missed 18 games during the 1997âÂÂ98 NHL season, but still scored 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points. In his fourth season, Dvoà Âák played in every game, scoring 19 goals and 43 points. He scored four shorthanded goals which placed him in a tie for fourth in the NHL. In 1999âÂÂ2000, Dvoà Âák scored 7 goals and 17 points in 35 games before being traded. On December 30, 1999, the Panthers traded him to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Mike Vernon and the Sharks' third-round pick in the 2000 NHL entry draft, after which the Sharks traded Dvoà Âák to the New York Rangers for Todd Harvey and the Rangers' fourth-round pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft.
Dvoà Âák finished the 1999âÂÂ2000 season with the Rangers, scoring 11 goals and 33 points in 46 games. In 2000âÂÂ01, Dvoà Âák was placed on a line with fellow Czechs Petr NedvÃÂd and Jan Hlavac and he would have a breakout season. In 79 games, Dvoà Âák scored 31 goals and 36 assists for 67 points to finish fourth in team scoring. However, the Rangers would once again miss the playoffs. Dvoà Âák saw his production fall during the 2001âÂÂ02 season, scoring 17 goals and 37 points in 65 games. His production continued to fall during the 2002âÂÂ03 season, as Dvoà Âák had six goals and 27 points in 63 games with the Rangers. On March 11, 2003, the Rangers traded Dvoà Âák and Cory Cross to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Anson Carter and Aleà ¡ PÃÂà ¡a.
Dvoà Âák appeared in 12 games with the Oilers in 2002âÂÂ03, scoring four goals and eight points, as Edmonton qualified for the playoffs. In his first playoff action since 1997, Dvorak scored a highlight reel goal in which he skated from end to end, scoring a game-winning goal. It would be his only point in four playoff games. Dvoà Âák returned to the Oilers in 2003âÂÂ04, where he scored 15 goals and 50 points in 78 games, however, Edmonton failed to make the playoffs. During the 2004âÂÂ05 NHL lockout, Dvorak played with HC ÃÂeské BudÃÂjovice. He returned to the Oilers in 2005âÂÂ06, where he had only eight goals and 28 points in 64 games. In the playoffs, Dvoà Âák had two assists in 16 games, as the Oilers lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. He left the Oilers during the off-season, as he signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues on September 14, 2006.
Dvoà Âák spent the 2006âÂÂ07 season with the Blues, where in 82 games, he scored 10 goals and recorded 27 assists for 37 points. The Blues failed to qualify for the playoffs, and Dvoà Âák left as a free agent after the season, returning to the Florida Panthers on July 1, 2007.
Dvoà Âák returned to his original NHL team in the 2007âÂÂ08 season. In 67 games with the Panthers, Dvoà Âák had only 8 goals and 17 points. He saw his numbers rebound in the 2008âÂÂ09 season, with 15 goals and 36 points in 81 games. On July 1, 2009, Dvoà Âák signed a two-year, $3.4 million contract extension with Florida. In the 2009âÂÂ10 season, he had 14 goals and 32 points in 76 games. On December 7, 2009, he played in his 1,000th NHL game against his former club, the Edmonton Oilers, at the BankAtlantic Center.
During the 2010âÂÂ11 season, the Panthers honoured Dvoà Âák for playing more career games as a Panther than anyone in franchise history on November 23 before a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 53 games that year, Dvoà Âák had 7 goals and 14 assists for 21 points.
On February 28, 2011, the Panthers traded Dvoà Âák (along with a fifth-round pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft) to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for Patrick Rissmiller and Niclas Bergfors.
On July 1, 2011, Dvoà Âák signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Dallas Stars. On December 1, 2011, Radek Dvoà Âák recorded his 350th career assist.
During the 2012âÂÂ13 NHL lockout, and as a free agent, Dvoà Âák signed a contract with HC Davos of the Swiss National League A. He played in the final seven regular season games with Davos and contributed in their post-season campaign before he signed for the remainder of the shortened 2012âÂÂ13 NHL season with the Anaheim Ducks on March 24, 2013.
On September 3, 2013, it was announced by Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford that Dvoà Âák would be invited to attend the Carolina Hurricanes' training camp. He subsequently signed a two-way contract with Carolina on October 2, 2013. He scored his first goal for the Hurricanes in the second period of a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Dvoà Âák retired from professional hockey on January 27, 2015, after 18 seasons and 1,260 games played in the NHL.