Samuel Hlavaj - NHL News & Rumors

Collects AHL shutout Hlavaj recorded a 30-save shutout in AHL Iowa's 4-0 win over Texas on Wednesday.

Impact Hlavaj made his 20th AHL appearance of the season and picked up his second shutout. He's had some moments, but his 6-10-4 record, 3.30 GAA and .885 save percentage show he still has some things to work on at Iowa. Hlavaj also had a 3.56 GAA and .908 save percentage across five games for Slovakia at the Olympics, helping his country to a fourth-place finish.

19 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Yields four goals to Finland Hlavaj turned aside 29 of 33 shots on goal during Slovakia's 6-1 loss to Finland in the Olympic bronze medal game Saturday.

Impact Hlavaj was tasked with defending against a strong offense in Finland, which was able to compile four goals against him across the first 50 minutes of the contest. With the loss, the 24-year-old Hlavaj finished the Olympics with a 3.56 GAA and a .908 save percentage across five appearances. While he'll head back to AHL Iowa without an Olympic medal, the young netminder was able to showcase his skills on the world stage, which could lead to an NHL call-up if Minnesota's Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt pick up an injury.

FEBRUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Set to face Finland Hlavaj will start for Slovakia against Finland in Saturday's bronze-medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Impact Hlavaj allowed four goals on 23 shots before being pulled midway through the second period in Slovakia's 6-2 loss to Team USA in the semifinals Friday. His GAA is up to 3.39, but that contrasts a strong .915 save percentage across four outings in the tournament. After competing for a medal Saturdy, he'll probably rejoin AHL Iowa. He had a 3.33 GAA and an .884 save percentage in 18 appearances with Iowa in 2025-26.

FEBRUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Pulled vs. United States Hlavaj was pulled in the second period of Slovakia's 6-2 loss to the United States in the Olympics semifinals Friday after allowing four goals on 23 shots against.

Impact Hlavaj left the contest midway through the second frame when Slovakia was trailing by four goals, and they couldn't complete a comeback despite scoring twice in the final frame. Hlavaj is expected to start in the bronze-medal game against Finland on Saturday.

FEBRUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Starting against United States Hlavaj will start for Slovakia during Friday's semifinal matchup against the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Impact Hlavaj has made four appearances at the Olympics, going 3-1-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .932 save percentage. He'll face a tough test against the United States, but he was productive against Germany during the quarterfinals, allowing two goals on 27 shots in the 6-2 victory.

FEBRUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to semifinals Hlavaj stopped 25 shots in Slovakia's 6-2 win over Germany during the quarterfinals of the Olympic men's hockey tournament Wednesday.

Impact The Wild prospect got plenty of help from his offense, as Slovakia built a 4-0 lead before Hlavaj finally saw a puck get past him late in the second period. The 24-year-old netminder has been as impressive as his team in the tournament, allowing six goals on 116 shots (.948 save percentage) as Slovakia looks to medal for a second straight Olympics after winning bronze at Beijing in 2022, a year when NHL players weren't involved.

FEBRUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Slated to start versus Germany Hlavaj is expected to defend the crease for Slovakia in their quarter-final matchup versus Germany on Wednesday at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Impact Hlavaj is 1-1 at the Olympics. He was spectacular versus Finland on Feb. 11, stopping 39 shots in a 4-1 victory, and turned aside 46 shots in a 5-3 loss to Sweden on Saturday. Hlavaj will face Germany, who defeated France 5-1 on Tuesday to advance to the quarter-finals.

FEBRUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Can't weather storm against Sweden Hlavaj made 46 saves in Slovakia's 5-3 loss to Sweden in Olympic round-round action Saturday.

Impact Slovakie got out-shot 51-32 on the day, but Hlavaj came up with a number of big saves to keep his team in the game. The 24-year-old Wild prospect helped propel Slovakia to a 2-1 record in the round robin, allowing six goals on 91 shots in his two starts, but whether the team gets a bye to the quarterfinals or will have to play in the qualification round Tuesday hinges on the result of Finland's final round-robin game against Italy.

FEBRUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Gets starting nod versus Sweden Hlavaj will protect the Slovakian cage versus Sweden on Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.

Impact Hlavaj was outstanding Wednesday, stopping 39 shots in a 4-1 upset win over Finland. Hlavaj has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign at AHL Iowa, where he is 5-9-4 with a 3.24 GAA and an .884 save percentage over 18 starts. Sweden has their backs against the wall Saturday, and will likely need to defeat Slovakia by two goals to guarantee advancement into the quarter-finals.

FEBRUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Shines in Olympic debut Hlavaj stopped 39 of 40 shots in Slovakia's 4-1 win over Finland on Wednesday in the preliminary round of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Impact Hlavaj had the daunting task of dealing with a Finnish offense that featured elite talent such as Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen and Sebastian Aho, but he was only beaten once while carrying Slovakia to an upset win. He'll aim to carry this form into the team's second game of the round robin, where they'll take on Italy on Friday, Feb. 13.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Slovakia goalie Samuel Hlavaj shows being an NHL player isn't needed at Olympics from AHL Iowa | Sporting News This is a clutch performance.

FEBRUARY 11 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Juraj Slafkovsky scores twice as Slovakia upsets Finland 4-1 to open the Milan Cortina Olympics

Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice to pick up where he left off four years ago, fellow NHL player Dalibor Dvorsky got the tiebreaking goal with less than 13 minutes left and Slovakia pu...

FEBRUARY 11 • Associated Press

Puck drops on men's hockey at the Milan Cortina Olympics with NHL players

Men's hockey at the Milan Cortina Olympics with NHL players back is off to a fast and unpredictable start

FEBRUARY 11 • Associated Press

Set to get Olympic start Wednesday Hlavaj is set to start for Slovakia against Finland on Wednesday at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Patrik Mitas of STV reports.

Impact Hlavaj has a 3.33 GAA and an .884 save percentage in 18 outings with AHL Iowa in 2025-26. The 24-year-old was never drafted, but he signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Minnesota on April 5, 2024. This is the first game of the tournament for Slovakia and Finland, but the Finnish team is expected to be very good. Hlavaj will be facing the likes of Roope Hintz, Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen, as well as other NHL talent.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Earns shutout Sunday Hlavaj recorded a 28-save shutout in AHL Iowa's 6-0 win over Manitoba on Sunday.

Impact Hlavaj picked up his first shutout of the season and the second of his career. He is now 4-5-1 with a 3.21 GAA and an .884 save percentage over 10 appearances. Hlavaj is battling with Cal Petersen for starts with Iowa, though neither will be able to rely on performance alone to get to the NHL, where the Wild boast a strong goaltending duo in Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt.

DECEMBER 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Successful rookie season in AHL Hlavaj went 14-14-3 with a 2.85 GAA and a .904 save percentage across 36 regular-season appearances at AHL Iowa in 2024-25.

Impact Hlavaj outplayed Jesper Wallstedt at the AHL level and is expected to battle Wallstedt for the backup role behind Filip Gustavsson with the Wild in 2025-26 as Marc-Andre Fleury has retired. Hlavaj will gain extra experience as he is headed to the IIHF World Championship this week with Slovakia and is expected to be their No. 1 goaltender as he will vie with Adam Huska and Patrik Rybar for the top job.

MAY 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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Juraj Slafkovsky scores twice as Slovakia upsets Finland 4-1 to open the Milan Cortina Olympics

Puck drops on men's hockey at the Milan Cortina Olympics with NHL players