Vitek Vanecek - NHL News & Rumors

Waived for AHL demotion Vanecek was placed on waivers Sunday with the intention of assigning him to AHL Hamilton.

Impact Vanecek posted a 5-13-3 record with one shutout, a 2.94 GAA and an .883 save percentage in 22 appearances with Utah during the 2025-26 regular season. He signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Islanders when free agency opened in July. If he goes unclaimed, he will likely begin the 2026-27 campaign in the minors.

SEPTEMBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Islanders Assign Aitcheson, Eiserman and George to Hamilton | New York Islanders Kashawn Aitcheson, Cole Eiserman and Isaiah George assigned to AHL Hamilton, Vitek Vanecek placed on waivers for purpose of assignment

SEPTEMBER 27 • NHL.COM

Getting night off Friday Vanecek will not be in the lineup for Friday's preseason clash with the Rangers, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports.

Impact Despite earlier reports indicating that Vanecek would start Friday, it seems the Islanders will utilize Semyon Varlamov in the crease while Joshua Kotai serves as the No. 2 option. Barring any setbacks, it seems likely that Varlamov will take the backup role to open the season, which would leave Vanecek headed for waivers or the minors.

SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

First goalie off Friday Vanecek was the first goalie off the ice during Friday's morning skate, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports, indicating that he'll draw the preseason start at home against the Rangers...

Impact Vanecek started in the Islanders' preseason opener Sunday and turned aside 20 of 22 shots during a 2-1 loss to New Jersey. He'll defend the crease once again during the penultimate game of the preseason as he continues to compete with Semyon Varlamov for the No. 2 goaltending job behind Ilya Sorokin.

SEPTEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

Vitek Vanecek making case to be third goalie as Islanders weigh Semyon Varlamov's health risk Nobody knows what the demands of an 84-game season — the travel, the practices, the 25 to 30 games the Islanders hope to get from their back...

SEPTEMBER 21 • NYPOST.COM

Makes 20 saves in preseason loss Vanecek turned aside 20 of 22 shots during Sunday's 2-1 preseason loss to New Jersey.

Impact Vanecek got the starting nod during the Islanders' preseason opener and defended the road crease for the entire game. He put forth a decent performance and should compete with Semyon Varlamov for the No. 2 goaltending job behind Ilya Sorokin as the preseason rolls on. Vanecek made 22 regular-season appearances for Utah last year, going 5-13-3 with a 2.94 GAA and .883 save percentage.

SEPTEMBER 21 • ROTOWIRE

NYI@NJD: Brown scores goal against Vitek Vanecek | New Jersey Devils Connor Brown (NJD) scores goal against Vitek Vanecek (NYI) to make it 2 - 1

SEPTEMBER 20 • NHL.COM

NYI@NJD: Schmelzer scores goal against Vitek Vanecek | New Jersey Devils Ryan Schmelzer (NJD) scores goal against Vitek Vanecek (NYI) to make it 1 - 1

SEPTEMBER 20 • NHL.COM

Tending twine Sunday Vanecek led the Islanders onto the ice for Sunday's preseason game, indicating he'll draw the road start against New Jersey, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.

Impact Vanecek will get the first chance to audition for the role of Islanders' backup goalie in the midst of his training camp battle against Semyon Varlamov. The 30-year-old Vanecek is looking to bounce back in 2026-27 after a rough go of things a season ago, where he compiled a 5-13-3 record, a 2.94 GAA and an .883 save percentage across 22 regular-season games with Utah. He's set to debut for his sixth different team across seven NHL seasons, which makes the upcoming campaign an important one for his long-term outlook in the majors.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Could have to settle for No. 3 role Vanecek could begin the 2026-27 campaign as the No. 3 goaltending option for the Islanders, Cory Wright of the Islanders' official site reports.

Impact Vanecek signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Islanders in early January and will likely have the opportunity to compete for a backup role during camp. However, Semyon Varlamov seems to be back to full health after missing all of last season, and he appears to be the favorite for the No. 2 job behind Ilya Sorokin. Vanecek made 22 regular-season appearances for the Mammoth last year, and he went 5-13-3 with a 2.94 GAA and .883 save percentage.

SEPTEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

NY Islanders Affiliate Signs Another Defenseman for Depth The New York Islanders didn’t make many changes to their roster this offseason, with only two players, forward Matias Maccelli and goalie Vi...

JULY 23 • SI.COM

NY Islanders Predicted To Make Shocking Move With Vitek Vanecek The New York Islanders weren’t overly active this offseason in free agency, focusing on turning the roster over and maximizing their future...

JULY 20 • SI.COM

7 Facts: Vitek Vanecek | New York Islanders Learn about the new Islanders goaltender in the latest edition of the 7 facts

JULY 2 • NHL.COM

Islanders Sign Vanecek | New York Islanders Islanders sign goaltender Vitek Vanecek to a one-year contract

JULY 1 • NHL.COM

Lands one-year contract Vanecek signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Islanders on Wednesday, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.

Impact Vanecek made a career-low 22 regular-season appearances with the Mammoth during the 2025-26 campaign, going 5-13-3 with a 2.94 GAA and .883 save percentage. If Semyon Varlamov (knee) returns to full health ahead of the 2026-27 season, Vanecek should compete for No. 2 goaltending duties with him behind Ilya Sorokin.

JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE

No days off for hockey dads! 😊

APRIL 28 • YOUTUBE

Takes loss in relief appearance Vanecek stopped nine of 10 shots in the third period Thursday after replacing Karel Vejmelka, taking the loss as the Mammoth fell 5-3 to the Blues.

Impact Vanecek took over in the crease with the score tied 3-3, so the backhander he allowed to Logan Mailloux late in the final frame wound up being the game-winning goal. Vanecek wraps up the regular season with a 5-13-3 record over 22 outings, along with a 2.94 GAA and .883 save percentage, and he'll be the Mammoth's No. 2 netminder as the team begins its first playoff run since the move to Utah.

APRIL 17 • ROTOWIRE

Mailloux nets late winner, Thomas has a hat trick as the Blues edge the Mammoth 5-3 in finale

Logan Mailloux scored the go-ahead goal with 2:57 left to play and Robert Thomas had a hat trick as the St. Louis Blues beat the Utah Mammoth 5-3 in the regular-season finale for b...

APRIL 17 • Associated Press

Yields four goals in loss Vanecek stopped 19 of 23 shots in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Flames.

Impact The Mammoth were a little sloppy in the first period, including Vanecek's own shaky play, and that ended up being the difference. The 30-year-old netminder hadn't played since March 26 versus the Capitals. With the Mammoth locked into a wild-card spot, they may opt to rest Karel Vejmelka ahead of an anticipated heavy workload in the playoffs. Vanecek is at 5-12-3 wit ha 2.93 GAA and an .883 save percentage over 21 appearances this season and hasn't been very effective in the backup role. The Mammoth have two games left on the regular-season slate -- Tuesday versus the Jets and Thursday versus the Blues, both of which are home games.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

Brayden Pachal has 3 points as the Flames beat the Mammoth 4-1

Brayden Pachal scored his first NHL goal of the season and added two assists as the Calgary Flames’ hot streak at home continued with a 4-1 victory over the Utah Mammoth

APRIL 13 • Associated Press

Starting in Calgary Vanecek will be in goal Sunday in Calgary, per Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

Impact This will be Vanecek's first start since March 26 against the Capitals, a game in which he surrendered six goals on 23 shots in a 7-4 loss. The Czech netminder has played in just six games since March 5, posting a 2-2-1 record, 2.72 GAA and .890 save percentage in that time. The Flames, for their part, have dropped three consecutive games against Dallas, Colorado and Seattle, netting a total of just five goals during their skid.

APRIL 13 • ROTOWIRE

Torched for six goals Vanecek stopped 17 of 23 shots in Thursday's 7-4 loss to the Capitals.

Impact Vanecek was pulled midway through the third period, and Karel Vejmelka stopped one shot before the Capitals scored an empty-netter. The 30-year-old Vanecek had been pretty steady in recent appearances, but this outing didn't match that standard. He's now 5-11-3 with a 2.87 GAA and an .886 save percentage over 20 outings this season. The Mammoth kick off a three-game road trip in Los Angeles on Saturday, and that'll likely be a game for Vejmelka to start given the implications on the playoff race.

MARCH 27 • ROTOWIRE

Ovechkin's 34th career hat trick powers Capitals past Mammoth, 7-4

Alex Ovechkin had his 34th career hat trick, Ivan Miroshnichenko scored twice, and the Washington Capitals beat the Utah Mammoth 7-4

MARCH 27 • Associated Press

Drawing start Thursday Vanecek will start Thursday's home game against the Capitals, Brogan Houston of the Deseret News reports.

Impact Vanecek stopped all 10 shots he saw in a relief appearance at home against the Oilers on Tuesday, and he'll start for the third time in Utah's last six games Thursday. Across five appearances this month, he's gone 2-1-1 with a 1.86 GAA and .923 save percentage.

MARCH 26 • ROTOWIRE

Sharp in relief outing Vanecek stopped all 10 shots he faced in relief of Karel Vejmelka in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Oilers.

Impact The Oilers' lone goal in the third period went into an empty net. Vanecek put in a good performance, and he's now allowed just eight goals on 104 shots over five outings in March. For the season, Vanecek is at 5-10-3 with a 2.67 GAA and an .893 save percentage through 19 appearances. The Mammoth have a light schedule to end March and begin April, so it's not clear when Vanecek might get back between the pipes.

MARCH 25 • ROTOWIRE

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Mailloux nets late winner, Thomas has a hat trick as the Blues edge the Mammoth 5-3 in finale

Brayden Pachal has 3 points as the Flames beat the Mammoth 4-1

Ovechkin's 34th career hat trick powers Capitals past Mammoth, 7-4