Frantisek Kucera was a mobile defenceman who played 354 games for four teams between 1990-91 and 1996-97. In the NHL he was more of a solid role player than a dominant force.
Born in Prague, Kucera played with Sparta Praha and Dukla Jihlava between 1985 and 1990. He competed at the 1986 European Junior Championships and was selected to the tournament all-star team. Kucera was chosen 77th overall in 1986 by the Chicago Black Hawks. He also helped Czechoslovakia win the silver medal at the 1987 World Junior Championships and finished fourth with the team in 1988. He later played for his country at the 1989 World Championships and the 1991 Canada Cup.
The experienced defender played 40 games for Chicago in 1990-91 then became a regular until he was traded to the Hartford Whalers late in 1993-94. Kucera's skill and savvy was sough by the Czech Republic at the 1994 World Championships but the team disappointed with a sixth place finish. He was a solid player for the Whalers following the Owner's Lockout before losing his place in the line-up. He joined the Vancouver Canucks in December 1995 but spent more time with the team's AHL affiliate in Syracuse.
Kucera was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in March 1997. After playing a pair of games for his new team, he spent the rest of the season in the minors. He went home in 1997-98 to play for Sparta Praha domestically and in the European Hockey League. That year he also played six games for the Czech Republic when they won the gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
