Career
Vrbata was originally drafted in 1999 by the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he has also played, along with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning during his National Hockey League career. Vrbata was drafted in the seventh round, 212th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1999 National Hockey League Entry Draft. In March 2003, Vrbata was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Bates Battaglia, later being acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks on 30 December 2005, in exchange for future considerations.
After two subpar seasons with Chicago, he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on 11 August 2007, for Kevyn Adams.
During his first year in Phoenix, he set career highs in goals, assists and led the team in scoring. On 1 July 2008, Vrbata, as a free agent, signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
On 2 January 2009, he joined his hometown team, BK Mladá Boleslav. Vrbata"s stint with Boleslav, however, was cut short when he was sent on loan to Bílí Tygři Liberec on 29 January 2009.
After finishing the season in the Czechoslovakian Republic, Vrbata advised the Lightning he intended to return to the National Hockey League for the second year of his contract for the 2009-2010 season.
Having already filled Vrbata"s spot on the team"s roster, however, Tampa Bay had no interests in retaining Vrbata and his agent, Rich Evans, was subsequently given permission to orchestrate a trade with another National Hockey League organization. Thus, on 21 July 2009, Vrbata was traded back to the Coyotes in exchange for David Hale and Todd Fedoruk for a second stint with the team He would total 43 goals in his next two seasons with the team, coupled with four Stanley Cup playoff goals as Phoenix qualified for the playoffs in both 2010 and 2011, losing both times to the Detroit Red Wings.
On 21 February 2012, Vrbata scored two goals in a 5–4 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
His second goal gave him 30 on the season, a career high He would finish the 2011-2012 season with a career-high 35 goals in which he led the entire National Hockey League in game-winners, with 12.
On 2 July 2014, Vrbata signed as an unrestricted free agent to a two-year, $10 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Vrbata stated the opportunity to play with the Sedin twins was a large factor in his decision.
In his first season in Vancouver, 2014-2015, Vrbata enjoyed a career year, finishing the regular season with 63 points from 78 games, besting his previous 62-point career-high season in 2011-2012.
He also led the Canucks in goals scored with 31, his second-highest single-season career total behind the 35 he scored in 2011-2012. Vrbata is from the same city as former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Martin Havlát, Mladá Boleslav. Vrbata"s brother David is also a professional hockey player.