Pavel Kubina started his professional career with HC Vítkovice of the Czech Extraliga. He played there for four seasons, during which he was drafted in the seventh round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Lightning.
Later in 1996, he came to Canada to play for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, and scored 44 points in 61 games. Kubina got his first taste of NHL action in the 1997-98 NHL season, although he spent most of his time playing for the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League.
He then spent most of the next season in the NHL, tallying a total of 21 points, while playing occasionally in the International Hockey League for the Cleveland Lumberjacks. By the 1999-00 NHL season Kubina had cemented his position in the Lightning’s lineup, and notched 26 points for them.
Kubina had 30 points in the 2000-01 campaign and 34 in 2001-02.
On July 1, 2006, Kubina signed a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs for four years at $20 million. Kubina was suspended by the NHL for the first game of the 2006-07 season for cross-checking Detroit’s Jiri Hudler in a preseason game.
Assets: Has good size and knows how to use it. Possesses a terrific low shot from the point and is a solid point producer. Can log plenty of minutes.
Flaws: Is starting to become more prone to injury over time. Struggles against speedy wingers and occasionally makes critical mistakes in the defensive zone.