Michal Pivoňka is a retired National Hockey League

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 player. He played his entire NHL career with the Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...

. Selected by the Capitals in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft

1984 NHL Entry Draft

The 1984 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 9, 1984, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.The 1984 Entry Draft was noted for the unusually high number of future Hall of Famers picked, particularly in lower rounds. In addition to Mario Lemieux being taken first overall, Patrick Roy was chosen...

, Pivonka defected to the United States during the summer of 1986. Since Eastern Europe was still under the Iron Curtain, it was still difficult for younger hockey players from the Eastern Bloc to play in the NHL.

During his NHL career, Pivonka played in 825 games, scored 181 goals and had 418 assists for a total of 599 points, twice leading the Capitals in scoring; 1991–92 (23G, 57A, 80P) and 1995–96 (16G, 65A, 81P). Pivonka last played in the NHL during the 1998-99 season, before finally retiring from hockey in 2000 after several injury filled seasons. He remains the Capitals all-time leader in career assists with 418.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...	Team	League		GP	G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...	A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...	Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...	PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,...		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1986–87	Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...	NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...		73	18	25	43	41		7	1	1	2	2
1987–88	Washington Capitals	NHL		71	11	23	34	28		14	4	9	13	4
1988–89 1988–89 AHL season The 1988–89 AHL season was the 53rd season of the American Hockey League. Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league abandoned awarding points for an overtime loss. The Sherbrooke Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season...	Baltimore Skipjacks Baltimore Skipjacks The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor professional ice hockey team in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena.-History:...	AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...		31	12	24	36	19		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Washington Capitals	NHL		52	8	19	27	30		6	3	1	4	10
1989–90	Washington Capitals	NHL		77	25	39	64	54		11	0	2	2	6
1990–91	Washington Capitals	NHL		79	20	50	70	34		11	2	3	5	8
1991–92	Washington Capitals	NHL		80	23	57	80	47		7	1	5	6	13
1992–93	Washington Capitals	NHL		69	23	51	74	66		6	0	2	2	0
1993–94	Washington Capitals	NHL		82	14	36	50	38		7	4	4	8	4
1994–95	Washington Capitals	NHL		46	10	23	33	50		7	1	4	5	21
1995–96	Detroit Vipers Detroit Vipers The Detroit Vipers was an International Hockey League team. The team was founded in 1994, and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.-Beginning:...	IHL		7	1	9	10	19		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Washington Capitals	NHL		73	16	65	81	36		6	3	2	5	18
1996–97	Washington Capitals	NHL		54	7	16	23	22		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Washington Capitals	NHL		33	3	6	9	20		13	0	3	3	0
1998–99	Washington Capitals	NHL		36	5	6	11	12		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Kansas City Blades Kansas City Blades The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena....	IHL		52	16	34	50	38		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				825	181	418	599	478		95	19	36	55	86

Awards and honors

• Directorate Award (Best Forward) and All-Star Selection, 1985 IIHF world junior hockey championships

External links

• Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com