Richard Zedník
A swift and tenacious Slovak winger who carved out a long NHL career and became known for a miraculous recovery from a life-threatening neck injury.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Slovak ice hockey player·Birthday: January 6·Generation X
Biography
Richard Zedník brought a blend of speed and scoring touch from Slovakia to the NHL stages of Washington, Montreal, and Florida. Over 15 seasons, he was a consistent middle-six forward, capable of explosive offensive bursts and responsible two-way play. His career, however, is indelibly marked by a single, terrifying event in 2008: a teammate’s skate blade accidentally severed his carotid artery during a game. His survival, thanks to rapid medical intervention, became one of hockey’s most harrowing and ultimately uplifting stories. Zedník returned to play the following season, a testament to his resilience. Beyond the NHL, he was a fixture for the Slovak national team, competing in multiple Olympics and World Championships, representing his country with pride.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Richard was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Richard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Richard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 745 regular-season games in the NHL across four teams over 15 seasons.
- Scored 200 career NHL goals, including a career-high 31 with the Montreal Canadiens in 2002-03.
- Represented Slovakia in the 1994, 2002, and 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Won a silver medal with Slovakia at the 2000 IIHF World Championship.
Did You Know?
He scored the first-ever goal for the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center (then BankAtlantic Center) in 2005.
The Richard Zedník Foundation supports youth hockey and provides assistance to those suffering from cardiovascular issues.
He was traded from Washington to Montreal in a deal that also involved future Hall of Famer Trevor Linden.
“The game goes on, and so must you.”
