Florida home is where Kubina’s heart is

Pavel Kubina once said he would play for the Lightning for free. The former Tampa Bay defenceman replayed that moment last Thursday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where he was honoured as part of the team’s 20th-anniversary celebration. He updated it, though, with this: “I would love to be part of this organization.” Of his inclusion, by fan vote, in the team’s 20th-anniversary celebration, Kubina said he was touched. He called it “special” and “a great honour,” and added: “To be able to be here and see the guys and see the fans, it means a lot to me. I always loved it here.” Athletes being honoured for this or that always say such things, but with Kubina — who lives in Pinellas County, Fla., with wife Andrea and daughter Tereza, 6, and calls the area his second home after his native Czech Republic — you really believe it. Perhaps it goes back to 1996, when the Lightning drafted Kubina 179th overall. Or the 2004 Stanley Cup championship. Or that Kubina, in 10 seasons with Tampa Bay (from 1997-2006 and 2010-12), had his greatest success here. His 72 goals still are a team record for defencemen. Whatever it is, when Kubina signed a two-year freeagent deal with the Lightning in July 2010 after stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Thrashers, he did it with the intention of ending his career with Tampa Bay. That he was traded in February 2012 to the Philadelphia Flyers was, as he said,

“Every time I have a bad day, I go back, obviously, to the Stanley Cup year.” PAVEL KUBINA

just part of the business, as were his six weeks in February and March playing for Genève-Servette during the Swiss league playoffs. Kubina, 36, said he would like to play again in the NHL. He is in good shape, he said, and skates often at a rink in Clearwater, Fla. Otherwise, he is happy being a dad, shuttling Tereza back and forth to school, “doing stuff around the house” and doting on Andrea, who is pregnant. Last Thursday, though, it was time for remembrance. “Every time I have a bad day, I go back, obviously, to the Stanley Cup year and all of my great teammates,” Kubina said. “It means so much, I can’t even describe how I feel and how I can bring my daughter here. Maybe she can understand a little more than before.”