Arizona fitting backdrop for Coyotes’ Radim Vrbata’s 1,000th game

Coyotes winger Radim Vrbata started playing hockey in his hometown less than an hour outside of Prague in the Czech Republic, a city of almost 50,000 anchored by an automobile factory.

He embarked on a junior-hockey career in Quebec at 17 and was in the NHL just three seasons later.

His first ever game was with the Avalanche at Madison Square Garden and his first goal came the next night against the Islanders.

Stops in Carolina, Chicago, Tampa and Vancouver ensued, adding to the mileposts that have spanned his journey, but none have been as memorable as his time – all three stints – with the Coyotes in Arizona, which was a fitting backdrop to Vrbata’s 1,000th regular-season game Thursday at Gila River Arena against the Senators.

“I’m glad the way it worked out,” Vrbata said. “I played half my career here, and this is where I had the most success. I’m glad this is how it worked out and I get to play this game in front of Coyotes fans.”

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Vrbata became the 310th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-game plateau and just the 12th in franchise history to commemorate the milestone as a Coyote.

It was his 494th game with the team, by far the most he’s dressed for any organization. In 493 games, he’d amassed 152 goals (tied for eighth) and 336 points (ranked 11th).

Overall, he boasted 274 goals and 602 points and led the Coyotes in goals (15), assists (33) and points (48) – totals that certainly reaffirm how much of a fit Arizona has been for the 35-year-old throughout his career as he hasn’t disappointed since returning for his third tour last summer via a one-year, bonus-laden contract.

“I was hoping that things would work out well and glad it did,” said Vrbata, who had his wife, Petra, three sons and brother, David, among those close to him in attendance for Thursday’s game.

After getting drafted in the seventh round (212th overall) by the Avalanche in 1999, Vrbata spent two seasons with Colorado before getting traded to the Hurricanes. During his third season in Carolina, he was flipped to the Blackhawks before landing in the Valley following a two-season stay in Chicago.

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That ensuing 2007-08 season was Vrbata’s best to date as he set career-highs in goals, assists and points, flourishing under then-coach Wayne Gretzky – who Vrbata credits for changing his career.

“I always felt like (previous coaches) were trying to change me,” he said. “Maybe it was the way the game was played back then, to be more physical. With Wayne, he was the first coach who just kind of let me play.”

A free agent after the season, Vrbata signed with the Lightning but was there only briefly as he left during the 2008-09 campaign to return to the Czech Republic with his wife, who was in the midst of a high-risk pregnancy. He resumed playing back home but returned to the NHL – and the Coyotes – in 2009 after his agent organized a trade from the Lightning to the Coyotes.

“Radim was comfortable here, and he felt that his best chance for success was to come back to the desert,” said Rich Evans, Vrbata’s agent.

Upon his return, Vrbata continued to thrive with his best goal output (35) coming in 2011-12 alongside fellow countryman Martin Hanzal and then-veteran Ray Whitney.

“It was one of the only times in my tenure here that we felt like we had a legitimate No. 1 line where they could have an impact on the game – even with the other teams’ top players checking them,” coach Dave Tippett said. “There was great chemistry between the three of them and really a catalyst of what you have to have to have a good team, and they were all guys that fit that bill at that time.”

Vrbata left the Coyotes as a free agent again in 2014 but after closing out his contract last season amid a down year with the Canucks, he wasn’t ready to call it quits and coming back to the Coyotes has rekindled his scoring touch.

Not only has he done that, but he’s also been a role model for the youth and was appointed alternate captain after Hanzal was traded last month.

“He’s a real good pro that young players can look at,” Tippett said. “He prepares well. His game’s very consistent. There’s lots to like about his game. Sometimes I think when you’re looking at captains or leadership guys, there’s too much emphasis on rah-rah and not enough substance. He’s a substance guy.”

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How far Vrbata will move past 1,000 games remains to be seen.

Although it certainly looks like he can continue to make a difference in the NHL, it’ll be a family decision, he said, of whether or not he keeps playing.

Regardless, though, Vrbata has no doubt solidified his spot as one of the most impactful players in the team’s history in the Valley – a legacy that has also helped Arizona become a second home to him and his family.

“When you’re happy somewhere hockey-wise,” he said, “everything else works.”

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.