Kristián Kudroč (born May 21, 1981) is a Slovak former professional ice hockey defenceman. Playing career Kudroč was drafted by the New York Islanders as their first-round pick, 28th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He is a large, physical defenceman with an impressive slapshot. He played in North America from 1999 to 2005, and represented SaiPa in the Finnish SM-liiga in the 2005–06 season, where SaiPafanit (the SaiPa fan club) elected Kudroč Player of the Year. Kudroc suffered a pre-season injury in a Tournament game with Barys Astana prior to the 2014–15 season. Kudroc was ruled out for the duration of the season in order to rehabilitate. As a free agent, Kudroc moved on from Astana and signed a one-year contract with Metallurg Novokuznetsk on June 4, 2015. On August 17, 2015, Kudroc sought a release from his contract with Metallurg due to personal reasons. He returned to Czech Republic, signing a contract after a years hiatus with HC Plzeň of the Extraliga on December 14, 2015. On July 14, 2016, Kudroc agreed to a one-year contract as a free agent to move to Austria, with EBEL club HC TWK Innsbruck. He featured in 8 games with Innsbruck before on November 6, 2016, he moved to the UK to sign for Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL. However, in December 2016, after playing in another 8 games, Kudroc again ceased his playing contract with Nottingham, departing for personal reasons relating to a serious illness within his family in his native Slovakia. Career statistics Regular season and playoffs International References External links 1981 births Living people Ässät players Barys Nur-Sultan players Brynäs IF players Detroit Vipers players Florida Panthers players Frölunda HC players Hammarby Hockey (1921–2008) players HC Sibir Novosibirsk players HC TWK Innsbruck players Ilves players National Hockey League first-round draft picks New York Islanders draft picks People from Michalovce Philadelphia Phantoms players Nottingham Panthers players HC Plzeň players Quebec RadioX players Quebec Remparts players SaiPa players San Antonio Rampage players Slovak expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Slovak ice hockey defencemen Södertälje SK players Springfield Falcons players Tampa Bay Lightning players Expatriate ice hockey players in England Expatriate ice hockey players in Austria Slovak expatriate sportspeople in England Slovak expatriate sportspeople in Austria Slovak expatriate ice hockey players in Finland Slovak expatriate ice hockey players in Sweden Slovak expatriate ice hockey players in Russia Slovak expatriate