On October 4, 2002, Robidas was claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers as part of the NHL Waiver Draft, and subsequently was dealt to the Dallas Stars for a 6th round selection in 2002. He appeared in a career-high 76 games during the 2002–03 NHL season.[citation needed]
In August 2005, following the lockout, Robidas returned to the Stars by signing a two-year contract.[citation needed]
In December 2006 the Stars signed him to a three-year, USD$4.5 million contract extension. On March 17, 2007, he was punched while charging Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators after Mike Modano had been checked by Tootoo. Tootoo still had his gloves on when he punched Robidas, and he hit Robidas square in the face. Robidas went down hard and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. He was taken to a hospital for examination. He later checked out of the hospital after being diagnosed with a concussion and flew back to Dallas with the team.[citation needed]
During the 2008 NHL playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks in game 5, Robidas took a clearing shot from Todd Marchant off the face that broke his nose. He returned to the game after receiving stitches and had a solid outing even though Dallas came up short 5–2. The next game in Dallas, Robidas scored the game tying goal shortly before he would set up Stu Barnes for the series-clinching goal, as Dallas went on to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 4–1 and take the series 4–2 on home ice.[citation needed]
Robidas won TSN's "No Guts, No Glory" contest, an unofficial award for the 2008–09 NHL season's toughest player. He was selected as the winner after a loose puck had broken his jaw in a game against the Phoenix Coyotes; Robidas missed only one shift after the incident and played more minutes than any skater in that game.[citation needed]
During the 2013–14 season, on November 29, 2013 against the Chicago Blackhawks Robidas broke his right leg in a collision with the boards behind the net. Nearing a return to full health, Robidas was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for a 2014 fourth-round draft pick on March 4, 2014.[3] During the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, in his first game back in Dallas as a member of the Ducks, Robidas fractured his right leg again just above the previous fracture.[4]
Toronto Maple Leafs
On July 1, 2014, Robidas signed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.[5] In poor health due to the two leg fractures sustained in the 13–14 season, Robidas, after one season with the Leafs, sat out the entirety of the following 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons. Robidas' extended time on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) coined a phrase, "Robidas Island", meaning when a Maple Leafs player is placed on LTIR and is never expected to return to the team for the duration of his contract.[6][7]
Coaching career
Robidas joined the Maple Leafs' front office as a consultant in January 2017, effectively signalling his retirement from playing professional hockey.[8] He became an assistant director of player development in September 2017[9] and was promoted to become the director of player development in August 2018.[10]
In July, 2022, Robidas was hired as an assistant coach by the Canadiens. He replaced Luke Richardson, who was hired as the new head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks earlier that summer.[11]
