Former New York Rangers Zubov and Nedomanský get call to the Hall
By Ed Stein
Václav Nedomanský
If for no other reason than Nedomanský was the first player to defect from behind the iron curtain and play professional hockey in North America, he deserves to be a Hall of Famer. Before coming to the West, he was a star in his home country of Czechoslovakia. Nedomanský played a dozen seasons in their top league scoring 534 points (354 goals, 180 assists) in 388 games over a dozen seasons between 1962-1974.
Aside from tearing up the Czech League, he was a star in international competition. Back then Czechoslovakia was considered the second-best team in the world (nobody beat the Soviets in that era). He won consecutive Silver Medals at 1968 (France) and 1972 (Japan) Olympics. In between and bookending the Olympic games, he played in nine World Cups including being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Forward in 1974.
As a North American professional, Nedomanský broke in with the Toronto Toros of the WHA in the fall of 1974. Among his teammates were Frank Mahovolich, Paul Henderson, and a trio of former Rangers Pat Hickey, Wayne Dillon, and Gilles Gratton. Three years later the Czech scoring machine was traded by Birmingham (Toronto relocated) to Detroit on the NHL. He played with the Red Wings for five seasons, putting up 247 points (108G, 139A) in 364 regular season games.
Nedomanský finished his professional career 1982-83 split between St. Louis and the New York Rangers. It may have been one of the oddest seasons in recent memory for a player. He signed with New York on September 30, 1982. A week later he was claimed off waivers by St. Louis. Fast forward three months and Nedomansky was traded back to Broadway along with Glen Hanlon for Andre Dore.
Interesting tidbit: Part of the return Birmingham received for Nedomansky in that trade was Dave Hanson, one of the Hanson Brothers from Slap Shot.
Getting back to the opening of this section, without Nedomansky’s bravery in defecting, NHL fans may never have seen talents like the Stastny brothers, Petr Nedved, or Alexander Mogilny.