LW Hlavac to play in Sweden

Aug 8, 2008 - 12:25 AM LINKOPING, Sweden (Ticker) -- Jan Hlavac's second tour of duty in the NHL was much shorter than his first.

After a return to the league that lasted just one season, Hlavac on Thursday signed with Linkopings HC of the Swedish Elite League.

A second-round pick of the New York Islanders in 1995, Hlavac spent parts of five seasons from 1999-2004 in the NHL before heading to Europe to play in his native Czech Republic and Switzerland. He returned to North America in 2007-08, beginning the campaign with the Tampa Bay Lightning before being dealt to the Nashville Predators at the February 26 trade deadline.

In 80 games with Tampa Bay and Nashville, the 31-year-old left wing recorded 12 goals and 23 assists.

The 6-foot, 201-pound Hlavac skated in 436 career contests with the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, Lightning and Predators, collecting 90 goals and 134 assists. He enjoyed his best campaign in 2000-01 with the Rangers, posting career highs of 28 tallies and 36 assists.