Robert Richard Kudelski (born March 3, 1964) is an American former professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...

player. He was drafted by the

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...

in the 1986 NHL Supplemental Draft.

Playing career

The Hill School Blues

Kudelski played high school hockey for

The Hill School The Hill School (commonly known as The Hill) is a coeducational preparatory boarding school located on a campus in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about northwest of Philadelphia. The Hill is part of the Ten Schools Admissions Organization (TSAO). ...

Yale Bulldogs (1983-1987)

Kudelski played with the

Yale Bulldogs The Yale Bulldogs are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school sponsors 35 varsity sports. The school has won two NCAA national championships in women's fencing, four in ...

of the ECAC, beginning in the 1983-84 season, where as a freshman, Kudelski had 14 goals and 26 points in 21 games. In 1984-85, Kudelski saw an increase in his offensive production, scoring 21 goals and 44 points in 32 games with Yale. Kudelski saw a slight decrease in his offense in 1985-86, scoring 18 goals and 41 points in 31 games. In his final season with the Bulldogs in 1986-87, Kudelski had his best collegiate season, scoring 25 goals and 47 points in 30 games, and was named as a First All-Star in the ECAC.

Los Angeles Kings (1987-1993)

Kudelski was drafted by the

first overall in the 1986 NHL Supplemental Draft. Kudelski began the 1987-88 with the Kings, and appeared in his first career NHL game on October 8, 1987, as he was held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 loss to the

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...

. On November 19, in his 17th game, Kudelski earned his first career NHL point, an assist, in a 7-5 loss to the

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells ...

. That would be the only point Kudelski would register in his rookie season, as he played in 26 games. Following the Kings game on December 10, the club sent Kudelski to their AHL affiliate, the

New Haven Nighthawks The New Haven Nighthawks were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars (1972–1977), New York Islanders (1972–1973), New York Rangers (19 ...

, where he finished the 1987-88 season. With the Nighthawks, Kudelski scored 15 goals and 34 points in 50 games, however, the club failed to reach the post-season. He split the 1988-89 season between the Kings and Nighthawks. While with Los Angeles, Kudelski scored his first career NHL goal on February 12, 1989, against

Alain Chevrier Alain Guy Chevrier (born April 23, 1961) is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender. Junior Hockey and Collegiate Career As a youth, Chevrier played in the 1974 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from C ...

of the

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...

in a 6-2 win. Overall, in 14 games with the Kings, Kudelski had a goal and four points. In 60 games with New Haven, Kudelski scored 32 goals and 51 points, helping the club reach the playoffs. In 17 post-season games, Kudelski had eight goals and 13 points, as the Nighthawks lost in the

Calder Cup The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League. It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars. The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In its curr ...

finals to the

Adirondack Red Wings The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, United States at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the Natio ...

. Kudelski made the Kings for good in the 1989-90 season, and got off to a fast start, scoring five goals and nine points in his first six games. Kudelski finished the season with 23 goals and 36 points in 62 games, helping Los Angeles reach the playoffs. On April 12, Kudelski earned his first career playoff point, an assist, in a 5-1 loss to the

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...

. On April 24, he scored his first career playoff goal against

Bill Ranford William Edward Ranford (born December 14, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings. He was selected in the third round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, 52nd overall, by the B ...

of the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

in a 6-5 loss. Overall, in eight playoff games, Kudelski had a goal and three points. In 1990-91, Kudelski played in 72 games with the Kings, scoring 23 goals and 36 points for the second straight season, helping Los Angeles into the playoffs once again. On January 9, Kudelski earned his first career

hat trick A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

, scoring three goals on three shots against

Kirk McLean Kirk Alan McLean (born June 26, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers. ...

of the

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...

in a 6-2 victory. In the post-season, Kudelski scored three goals and five points in eight games. Kudelski appeared in all 80 games with the Kings in 1991-92, scoring 22 goals and 43 points. On October 16, Kudelski set a career high with four points in a game, as he scored a hat trick and added an assist, as Los Angeles defeated the

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are owned by San Jose Sports & Entertainm ...

8-5. In the post-season, Kudelski appeared in all six games, however, he was held off the scoresheet. Kudelski began the 1992-93 season with the Kings, as he scored three goals and six points in 15 games. On December 19, the Kings traded Kudelski and Shawn McCosh to the

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...

for

Marc Fortier Marc Fortier (born February 26, 1966) is a Canadian former ice hockey centre. Fortier played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings. Biography Fortier was raised in Windsor, Quebec. As a you ...

and Jim Thomson.

Ottawa Senators (1992-1994)

Kudelski finished the 1992-93 season with the expansion

, where in 48 games, he scored 21 goals and 35 points. On January 10, Kudelski recorded his first career

with the Senators, scoring three goals in a 3-2 victory over the

. In 1993-94, Kudelski had a breakout season, where in 42 games with Ottawa, he had 26 goals and 41 points. His time with the Senators came to an end though, as the club traded Kudelski to the

Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern ...

for

Evgeny Davydov Yevgeni Vitalievich Davydov (russian: Евгений Витальевич Давыдов); born May 27, 1967) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers and ...

Scott Levins Scott M. Levins (born January 30, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey player. Levins was born in Spokane, Washington. Playing career After a successful junior career with the WHL's Tri-City Americans, Levins was selected by the W ...

, the Panthers sixth round draft pick in the

1994 NHL Entry Draft The 1994 NHL Entry Draft was the 32nd NHL Entry Draft. It was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28–29, 1994. The last active players in the NHL from this draft class were Patrik Elias and Eric Boulton, who both played their last NHL g ...

, and the

Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and were founde ...

fourth round draft pick, previously acquired by Florida, in the

1995 NHL Entry Draft The 1995 NHL Entry Draft was the 33rd NHL Entry Draft. It was held at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last. I ...

Florida Panthers (1993-1996)

Kudelski finished the 1993-94 season with the

, and represented the club in the 1994 NHL All-Star Game held at

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

. Kudelski scored the first goal for the Eastern Conference along with the game-tying goal, as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference by a score of 9-8. On January 13, 1994, his wife Marie-France gave birth to their daughter Jessica, named the first Panther baby, who was the first child born to a player of the new team. In 44 games with the Panthers, Kudelski scored 14 goals and 29 points. Kudelski tied an NHL record, as he played in 86 regular season games: 42 with Ottawa and 44 with Florida, during the season. Kudelski's offensive production dropped drastically in 1994-95, as he scored six goals and nine points in 26 games in the lockout shortened season. Kudelski continued to struggle in the 1995-96 season, earning only one assist in 13 games with the Panthers. He also spent some time with the

Carolina Monarchs The Carolina Monarchs were a short-lived ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the Greensboro Coliseum. In the spring of 1997, the Hartford Whalers of the NHL announced that they would pl ...

of the AHL, scoring a goal in four games. After the season, Kudelski officially retired from hockey.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Awards and honors

Transactions

*Traded to Ottawa by Los Angeles with Shawn McCosh for

and Jim Thomson, December 19, 1992. *Traded to Florida by Ottawa for

, Florida's 6th-round choice (Mike Gaffney) in 1994 Entry Draft, and Dallas' 4th-round choice (previously acquired, Ottawa selected Kevin Bolibruck) in 1995 Entry Draft, January 6, 1994.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kudelski, Bob 1964 births Living people American men's ice hockey centers American people of Ukrainian descent Carolina Monarchs players Florida Panthers players Ice hockey players from Massachusetts Los Angeles Kings draft picks Los Angeles Kings players National Hockey League All-Stars National Hockey League supplemental draft picks New Haven Nighthawks players Ottawa Senators players Sportspeople from Springfield, Massachusetts Yale Bulldogs men's ice hockey players The Hill School alumni