Roman Hamrlík

Roman Hamrlík
Hamrlík with the Montreal Canadiens in 2009
Born	(1974-04-12) April 12, 1974 Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	223 lb (101 kg; 15 st 13 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	ZPS Zlín Tampa Bay Lightning Edmonton Oilers New York Islanders Calgary Flames Montreal Canadiens Washington Capitals New York Rangers
National team	Czech Republic
NHL draft	1st overall, 1992 Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career	1990–2013

Roman Hamrlík (born April 12, 1974) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was originally selected first overall in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the first-ever selection by the expansion franchise, beginning his career with the team and later playing for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers. In total, he played 1,395 games during his NHL career and participated in three NHL All-Star Games, in 1996, 1999, and 2003.

Hamrlík also represented the Czech Republic on numerous occasions at the international level, including at the 1998 Winter Olympics, where he was part of the gold medal-winning Czech team. He also played in the 2002 Winter Olympics, as well as two Ice Hockey World Championships, in 1994 and 2004, and two World Cup of Hockey tournaments, in 1996 and 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Playing career

Drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft from ZPS Zlín, Hamrlík played as a defenceman who typically took on an offensive role for his team, especially on the powerplay. His offensive prowess earned him the role of the "powerplay quarterback," as he often lead the offense in a powerplay.

After his draft, Hamrlík would make the immediate leap to North America to play for the Lightning in the 1992–93 season. In 1995–96, he posted career-highs in goals (16), assists (49) and points (65). After five-and-a-half seasons with the organization, Hamrlík was traded to the Edmonton Oilers midway through the 1997–98 season.

Hamrlík was traded the New York Islanders in the summer of 2000, in exchange for Eric Brewer, Josh Green, and a 2nd round pick in 2000. During the 2000–01 season, he would match his career-high in goals with 16.

Hamrlík signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Calgary Flames on August 12, 2005, to a two-year, $7 million contract. In 2006–07, he posted a career-high in plus-minus with +22. On July 2, 2007, again as a free agent, Hamrlík signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

After four productive seasons with Montreal, Hamrlík signed as a free agent on a two-year, $7 million contract with the Washington Capitals on July 1, 2011. In his second season with Washington during the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Hamrlik was limited to just four games as a reserve defenceman before he was ultimately placed on waivers by the team on March 5, 2013. He was claimed by the New York Rangers on March 6, 2013.

Hamrlík announced his retirement from professional hockey on October 21, 2013.

Hamrlík was inducted into the Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame on January 22, 2019.

Personal life

Hamrlík has an older brother, Martin Hamrlík, who was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in 1991, but never played in the NHL. Martin Hamrlík played principally for PSG Zlín, retiring in 2013.

Hamrlík and his wife Cynthia have a son (James, who died in 2021) and daughter (Billie Rose) together.

Career statistics

Hamrlík as a member of the Calgary Flames

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1990–91	AC ZPS Zlín	CSSR		15	2	2	4	18		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	AC ZPS Zlín	CSSR		34	5	5	10	50		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Atlanta Knights	IHL		2	1	1	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		67	6	15	21	71		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		64	3	18	21	135		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	AC ZPS Zlín	CZE		2	1	0	1	10		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		48	12	11	23	86		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		82	16	49	65	103		5	0	1	1	4
1996–97	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		79	12	28	40	57		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		37	3	12	15	22		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		41	6	20	26	48		12	0	6	6	12
1998–99	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		75	8	24	32	70		3	0	0	0	2
1999–00	HC Barum Continental Zlín	CZE		6	0	3	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		80	8	37	45	68		5	0	1	1	4
2000–01	New York Islanders	NHL		76	16	30	46	92		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	New York Islanders	NHL		70	11	26	37	78		7	1	6	7	6
2002–03	New York Islanders	NHL		73	9	32	41	87		5	0	2	2	2
2003–04	New York Islanders	NHL		81	7	22	29	68		5	0	1	1	2
2004–05	HC Hamé Zlín	CZE		45	2	14	16	70		17	1	3	4	24
2005–06	Calgary Flames	NHL		51	7	19	26	56		7	0	2	2	2
2006–07	Calgary Flames	NHL		75	7	31	38	88		6	0	1	1	8
2007–08	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		77	5	21	26	38		12	1	2	3	8
2008–09	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		81	6	27	33	62		4	0	0	0	2
2009–10	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		75	6	20	26	56		19	0	9	9	15
2010–11	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		79	5	29	34	81		7	0	3	3	6
2011–12	Washington Capitals	NHL		68	2	11	13	34		14	1	3	4	12
2012–13	Washington Capitals	NHL		4	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	New York Rangers	NHL		12	0	0	0	6		2	0	1	1	2
NHL totals				1,395	155	483	638	1,408		113	3	38	41	87

International

Medal record
Representing Czech Republic
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
	1998 Nagano
Representing Czech Republic
European Junior Championships
	1991 Czechoslovakia
	1992 Norway

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1991	Czechoslovakia	EJC		5	0	3	3	2
1992	Czechoslovakia	EJC		6	1	1	2	8
1992	Czechoslovakia	WJC		7	3	0	3	8
1994	Czech Republic	WC		1	0	0	0	2
1996	Czech Republic	WCH		3	0	0	0	4
1998	Czech Republic	OG		6	1	0	1	2
2002	Czech Republic	OG		4	0	1	1	2
2004	Czech Republic	WCH		4	0	2	2	0
2004	Czech Republic	WC		7	0	0	0	0
Junior totals				18	4	4	8	18
Senior totals				25	1	3	4	10

Awards

• NHL All-Star Game – 1996, 1999, 2003

See also

• List of NHL players with 1000 games played

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database