Karel Rachůnek
Mar 23, 2008 | By Ben Chaisson | Players Articles Archive
Karel Rachůnek (born August 27, 1979, in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the New Jersey Devils. He was drafted in the ninth round, 229th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
Drafted out of the Czech Extraliga's HC Zlín, Rachůnek made his North American debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the International Hockey League during the 1998-99 season. He made his National Hockey League debut during the same season, appearing in six games for the Senators. He played with Ottawa until being traded, along with Alexandre Giroux, to the New York Rangers in exchange for Greg de Vries during the 2003-04 season.
During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Rachůnek returned to the Czech Extraliga to play for HC JME Znojemští Orli. He stayed in Europe for the 2005-06 season, playing in the Russian Superleague for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. It is reported that Rachůnek was unhappy with the circumstances surrounding his trade from Ottawa to the Rangers, and that is why he decided to stay in the RSL during the 2005-06 season. However in July of 2006 he signed with the Rangers and played with them during the 2006-07 NHL season.
On July 3, 2007, he signed a one year contract with the New Jersey Devils.
Career statistics
Regular season
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- | S | S% |
| 1999-00 | Grand Rapids Griffins | IHL | 62 | 6 | 20 | 26 | +18 | 64 | 92 | 6.52 |
| Ottawa Senators | NHL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.00 | |
| 2000-01 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 71 | 3 | 30 | 33 | +17 | 60 | 77 | 3.90 |
| 2001-02 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 51 | 3 | 15 | 18 | +7 | 24 | 55 | 5.54 |
| 2002-03 | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | RSL | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | n/a | 8 | n/a | n/a |
| Binghamton Senators | AHL | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +2 | 10 | 11 | 0.00 | |
| Ottawa Senators | NHL | 58 | 4 | 25 | 29 | +23 | 30 | 110 | 3.64 | |
| 2003-04 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 60 | 1 | 16 | 17 | +17 | 29 | 99 | 1.01 |
| New York Rangers | NHL | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -9 | 4 | 21 | 4.76 | |
| (2003/04 OTT/NYR Totals) | NHL | 72 | 2 | 19 | 21 | +8 | 33 | 120 | 1.67 | |
| 2004-05 | HC Znojmo | CZE | 21 | 5 | 6 | 11 | -6 | 55 | n/a | n/a |
| Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | RSL | 27 | 6 | 8 | 14 | -3 | 69 | n/a | n/a | |
| 2005-06 | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | RSL | 45 | 11 | 16 | 27 | n/a | 73 | n/a | n/a |
| 2006-07 | New York Rangers | NHL | 66 | 6 | 20 | 26 | n/a | 38 | n/a | n/a |
| 2007-08 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
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