Jaroslav Modrý
Jaroslav Modrý | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 27, 1971 Czech Republic |
| Occupation(s) | Ice hockey player, coach |
| Years active | 1993–2010 (player) |
| Known for | NHL defenseman for New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers; assistant coach with Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) |
Jaroslav Modrý (born 27 February 1971) is a retired Czech professional ice hockey defenseman who competed for 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), representing the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, and Philadelphia Flyers.
Presently, he holds an assistant coaching position within the St. Louis Blues organization, working with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Playing career
Modrý was chosen 179th overall in the ninth round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils and made his NHL debut in the 1993–94 season. In July 1995, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators and subsequently moved to the Los Angeles Kings in March 1996. It was with the Kings that Modrý established himself as a consistent NHL player, completing his first full season in 2000–01. During the 2001–02 campaign, he achieved career-best statistics with 38 assists and a total of 42 points, earning a spot in the NHL All-Star Game. The following season, 2002–03, he recorded a personal high of 13 goals.
After the conclusion of the 2003–04 season, Modrý signed with the Atlanta Thrashers as an unrestricted free agent. During the NHL lockout in 2004–05, he returned to play for HC Liberec in the Czech Extraliga. After one year with Atlanta, he was traded alongside Patrik Štefan to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Niko Kapanen and a seventh-round draft pick. Midway through the 2006–07 season, Dallas sent him back to Los Angeles as part of a trade involving Mattias Norström. The next season saw Modrý traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for a third-round draft selection.
Modrý exited the NHL after signing a two-year deal with HC Liberec for the 2008–09 Czech Extraliga season, where he also served as team captain. Following one season there, he transferred to HC Plzeň on 1 May 2009.
Coaching career
Upon concluding his playing career, Modrý moved into coaching roles. From 2016 until 2021, he worked as a youth coach within the Los Angeles Kings organization, including three seasons as an assistant coach for their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Subsequently, he returned to his homeland to take on head coaching responsibilities at HC Motor České Budějovice and later HC Kometa Brno. In June 2024, citing family considerations, Modrý resigned from his position in Brno and accepted an assistant coaching role with the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds.
Personal life
Modrý is connected by marriage to John Slaney, as their spouses are sisters.
Regular season and playoffs
... [Table continues with similar formatting, excluding minor redundant details] ...| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1987–88 | TJ Motor České Budějovice | CSSR | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | TJ Motor České Budějovice | CSSR | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | ||
| 1989–90 | TJ Motor České Budějovice | CSSR | 41 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1990–91 | ASVŠ Dukla Trenčín | CSSR | 33 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1991–92 | TJ Motor České Budějovice | CZE II | 14 | 4 | 10 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1991–92 | ASVŠ Dukla Trenčín | CSSR | 18 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | |||
| CSSR totals | 111 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 4 | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 725 | 49 | 201 | 250 | 510 | 28 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||||
| ELH totals | 208 | 25 | 54 | 79 | 284 | 35 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 46 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Czechoslovakia | EJC | ||||||
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | WJC | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2003 | Czech Republic | WC | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |