Jan Kovář[1] (born 20 March 1990) is Czech professional ice hockey forward who currently serves as captain of EV Zug of the National League (NL). He is the younger brother of Jakub Kovář.

Jan Kovář
Jan Kovář HC Škoda Plzeň original.jpg
Born (1990-03-20) March 20, 1990 (age 34)
Písek, Czechoslovakia
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
PositionForward
ShootsRight
NL team
Former teams
EV Zug
HC Plzeň
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Providence Bruins
National team Czech Republic
NHL draftUndrafted
Playing career2008–present

Playing career

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He made his professional debut with HC Plzeň in the Czech Extraliga during the 2008–09 season.[2] Before moving to Russia for the 2013–14 KHL season in signing for Metallurg Magnitogorsk and claiming the Gagarin Cup.[3] Playing within the Czech national team he advanced to the semi-finals before being knocked out. In the bronze medal playoff, he scored against Canada, but the team could not win.[4]

As an undrafted free agent after five seasons in the KHL with Magnitogorsk, Kovář signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the New York Islanders, his first team in the NHL on 9 July 2018.[5] On 10 October, after failing to make the team following training camp he was placed on unconditional waivers by the Islanders with the intent of terminating his contract due to facing limited opportunities to continue his adaptation to the North American style if he reported to the AHL with affiliate, Bridgeport Sound Tigers.[6] With the intention to continue his career in North America, Kovář secured a professional try-out contract with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) on 18 October.[7] On 5 December, Kovář signed a one-month contract HC Plzeň of the Czech Extraliga (ELH).[8]

After playing out the season in the ELH, Kovář left in the off-season, securing a one-year contract with Swiss club EV Zug of the NL on 18 June 2019. His contract included an NHL out-clause through 25 June.[9]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2004–05IHC PísekCZE U18471642044
2005–06IHC PísekCZE.2 U181317102724
2005–06HC Lasselsberger PlzeňCZE U18401023332862578
2006–07HC Lasselsberger PlzeňCZE U184140397979823518
2006–07HC Lasselsberger PlzeňCZE U2010112
2007–08HC Lasselsberger PlzeňCZE U20452434586052462
2008–09HC Lasselsberger PlzeňCZE U201313132624
2008–09HC Lasselsberger PlzeňELH4427918172576
2008–09SHC KlatovyCZE.343144
2009–10HC Plzeň 1929CZE U2042350
2009–10HC Plzeň 1929ELH3849132661672
2009–10KLH ChomutovCZE.222022
2010–11HC Plzeň 1929ELH501919383840224
2010–11HC Slovan Ústečtí LviCZE.264264
2011–12HC Plzeň 1929ELH52183351521226810
2011–12Piráti ChomutovCZE.210330
2012–13HC Skoda PlzeňELH52173451662011152612
2013–14Metallurg MagnitogorskKHL5423456846218182616
2014–15Metallurg MagnitogorskKHL60244468501027916
2015–16Metallurg MagnitogorskKHL5820325261238152310
2016–17Metallurg MagnitogorskKHL59234063221810152522
2017–18Metallurg MagnitogorskKHL547283580114484
2018–19Providence BruinsAHL12461010
2018–19HC Skoda PlzeňELH287263332143101328
2019–20EV ZugNL5014314548
2020–21EV ZugNL5216476358131141522
2021–22EV ZugNL469344394155162112
ELH totals264671281952327319446362
KHL totals285971892862598332599168

International

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YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2008Czech RepublicWJC18 D111th51782
2010Czech RepublicWJC7th63362
2013Czech RepublicWC7th60002
2014Czech RepublicWC4th1001127
2015Czech RepublicWC4th103696
2016Czech RepublicWC5th81344
2017Czech RepublicWC7th82350
2018Czech RepublicOG4th63252
2019Czech RepublicWC4th1055106
2021Czech RepublicWC7th72352
2022Czech RepublicOG9th40224
Junior totals11410144
Senior totals5916254153

Awards and honors

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AwardYear
KHL
Gagarin Cup2014, 2016
All-Star Game2014, 2016
Golden Helmet Award
All-Star team
2016
Three Snipers Award
Most goal-scoring line
2014

References

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