Vítek Vaněček
Vítek Vaněček | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 9, 1996 Czech Republic |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey goaltender |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Known for | Playing in the NHL, Stanley Cup winner (2025) |
Vítek Vaněček (born 9 January 1996) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Utah Mammoth in the National Hockey League (NHL). He captured the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers during the 2025 season.
Playing career
Vaněček’s early hockey development began with HC Havlíčkův Brod, after which he transferred to HC Bílí Tygři Liberec in 2013.
Chosen 39th overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals, he inked a three-year entry-level deal on 15 July 2014.
In the course of the 2014–15 Czech Extraliga season, Vaněček appeared twice for HC Bílí Tygři Liberec, spending the majority of that season competing with HC Benátky nad Jizerou in the 1st Czech Republic Hockey League.
Washington Capitals
The following season, Vaněček transitioned to North America, dividing his time between Washington’s affiliates: the South Carolina Stingrays and the Hershey Bears. His impressive performance during the 2015–16 season with the Stingrays earned him a spot on the ECHL All-Rookie Team.
He was selected for his inaugural AHL All-Star Classic roster in 2019 and again in 2020, where he was honored as MVP after guiding the Atlantic Division to victory, conceding just two goals over four games.
Prior to the start of the 2020–21 NHL season, Vaněček was designated as Washington’s backup goaltender behind Ilya Samsonov. When Samsonov entered COVID-19 protocol in mid-January, Vaněček assumed starting duties. He made his NHL debut on 15 January 2021, stopping 30 of 31 shots to secure his first NHL victory. His strong January performances earned him NHL Rookie of the Month honors, and he recorded his first NHL shutout on 15 March against the Buffalo Sabres. Vaněček started Game 1 of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs but sustained an injury early in the match and was replaced.
On 21 July 2021, Vaněček was picked by the Seattle Kraken during the 2021 NHL expansion draft, only to be traded back to Washington a week later in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He achieved a career-high shutout on 3 March 2022 by making 36 saves in a 4–0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
New Jersey Devils
On 8 July 2022, Vaněček was traded from Washington to the New Jersey Devils in a deal involving an exchange of second-round picks and an additional third-round pick. As a restricted free agent, he secured a three-year contract extension valued at $10.2 million with New Jersey on 19 July 2022.
San Jose Sharks
Vaněček was traded to the San Jose Sharks on 8 March 2024 along with a seventh-round pick in 2025, in return for Kaapo Kähkönen. Injuries during that season limited him to just 18 appearances and three wins while playing for the rebuilding Sharks.
Florida Panthers
On 5 March 2025, Vaněček was dealt by San Jose to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Patrick Giles. Serving as backup to starter Sergei Bobrovsky, he recorded two wins across seven regular-season games and did not participate in postseason play as Florida captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
Utah Mammoth
As a free agent, Vaněček agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Utah Mammoth for the upcoming season, signing on 1 July 2025.
International competition
Vaněček took part in the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a member of the Czech Republic men's national junior ice hockey team, participating in three matches.
Regular season and playoffs
Florida Panthers || NHL || 7 || 2 || 4 || 1 || 421 || 21 || 1 || 3.00 || .890 || — || — || — || — || — || — || —| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–14 | HC Bílí Tygři Liberec | Czech.20 | 38 | 21 | 17 | 0 | 2,156 | 95 | 2 | 2.64 | .921 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 213 | 15 | 0 | 4.23 | .899 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–15 | HC Benátky nad Jizerou | Czech.1 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 1,178 | 44 | 0 | 2.24 | .925 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 282 | 13 | 0 | 2.77 | .902 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–15 | HC Bílí Tygři Liberec | Czech.20 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 240 | 12 | 1 | 3.00 | .919 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–15 | HC Bílí Tygři Liberec | ELH | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 120 | 3 | 0 | 1.50 | .943 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NHL totals !188 !96 !56 !21 !10,534 !496 !10 !2.83 ! .902 !10 !2 !4 !385 !29 !0 !4.52 ! .834 |
} International
Awards and honours
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||