Playing career

National Hockey League

The Calgary Flames selected Hrdina with their eighth round selection, 159th overall, at the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. However, due to a Czechoslovakian policy at the time regarding national team players, he was not permitted to join a professional team until after the 1988 Winter Olympics. Hrdina joined the Flames at the Games' conclusion, and made his NHL debut, as a 30-year-old, on March 3, 1988. He recorded his first point, an assist, in that game, then scored his first NHL goal on March 15 against the Hartford Whalers. He appeared in nine games to end the 1987-88 season with Calgary and scored two goals and seven points.

Hrdina had a four-goal game early in his first full NHL season, 1988-89, leading the Flames to a 6-3 win over the Whalers. On the season, he appeared in 70 games and scored 22 goals to go along with 32 assists. He appeared in only four playoff games that season, but was a member of the Flames' Stanley Cup championship team. Playing as a defensive forward, Hrdina recorded 30 points in 64 games in 1989-90.

In need of an additional centre, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Hrdina from the Flames on December 13, 1990, in exchange for defenceman Jim Kyte. The team also hoped he could help their star Czechoslovakian rookie Jaromír Jágr, who was struggling to adapt to life in North America. Initially upset at the trade, Hrdina considered retiring or returning to Europe, but chose to give Pittsburgh a try first. He finished the 1990-91 season with 23 points in 51 games combined between the Penguins and Flames, and appeared in 14 more in the 1991 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He scored two goals in the playoffs, both in game seven of Pittsburgh's first round series against the New Jersey Devils, including the game winner. The Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup. As a depth player in 1991-92, Hrdina had 16 points in 56 regular season games, and added two assists in 21 playoff games as the Penguins repeated as champions. He announced his retirement from the NHL following the season. He is currently an amateur scout for the Dallas Stars.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1977-78	Sparta ČKD Praha Jr.	Czech Jr.		35	6	8	14	20		—	—	—	—	—
1978-79	Sparta ČKD Praha	Czech		39	7	8	15	18		—	—	—	—	—
1979-80	Sparta ČKD Praha	Czech		44	7	7	14	24		—	—	—	—	—
1980-81	Sparta ČKD Praha	Czech		42	14	20	34	54		—	—	—	—	—
1981-82	HK Dukla Trenčín	Czech		44	11	27	38	36		—	—	—	—	—
1982-83	HK Dukla Trenčín	Czech-2		36	40	24	64			—	—	—	—	—
1983-84	Sparta ČKD Praha	Czech		44	16	33	49	28		—	—	—	—	—
1984-85	Sparta ČKD Praha	Czech		44	18	19	37	30		—	—	—	—	—
1985-86	Sparta ČKD Praha	Czech		34	26	19	45	30		6	2	2	4
1986-87	Sparta ČKD Praha	Czech		31	18	18	36	50		6	2	5	7
1987-88	Sparta ČKD Praha	Czech		22	7	15	22	30		—	—	—	—	—
1987-88	Calgary Flames	NHL		9	2	5	7	2		1	0	0	0	0
1988-89	Calgary Flames	NHL		70	22	32	54	26		4	0	0	0	0
1989-90	Calgary Flames	NHL		64	12	18	30	31		6	0	1	1	2
1990-91	Calgary Flames	NHL		14	0	3	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
1990-91	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		37	6	14	20	13		14	2	2	4	6
1991-92	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		56	3	13	16	16		20	0	2	2	16
Czech totals				344	124	190	314	300		12	4	7	11	—
NHL totals				250	45	85	130	92		45	2	5	7	24

International

Year	Team	Event	Result	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1977	Czechoslovakia Jr.	WJC	03 !	7	2	2	4	0
1978	Czechoslovakia Jr.	WJC	4th	6	1	3	4	0
1982	Czechoslovakia	WC	02 !	9	1	0	1	4
1983	Czechoslovakia	WC	03 !	9	1	0	1	4
1984	Czechoslovakia	OG	02 !	7	4	6	10	10
1984	Czechoslovakia	CC	5th	5	0	1	1	4
1985	Czechoslovakia	WC	01 !	10	2	2	4	4
1986	Czechoslovakia	WC	5th	10	7	5	12	14
1987	Czechoslovakia	WC	03 !	10	3	3	6	6
1987	Czechoslovakia	CC	4th	6	1	2	3	0
1988	Czechoslovakia	OG	6th	8	2	5	7	4
1990	Czechoslovakia	WC	4th	9	1	5	6	8
Junior totals				13	3	5	8	2
Senior totals				83	22	28	50	50

[ Source: Wikipedia ]