Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-2, 184 lbs |
| Birthplace: Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic |
| Age: 30 |
| Experience: 6 |
| Shoots: Left |
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Top Vitek Vanecek News
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Islanders' Vitek Vanecek: Waived for AHL demotion
Vanecek was placed on waivers Sunday with the intention of assigning him to AHL Hamilton.
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.
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Islanders' Vitek Vanecek: 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.
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.
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Islanders' Vitek Vanecek: 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.
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.
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Islanders' Vitek Vanecek: Makes 20 saves in preseason loss
Vanecek turned aside 20 of 22 shots during Sunday's 2-1 preseason loss to New Jersey.
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.
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Islanders' Vitek Vanecek: 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.
Vanecek will get the first chance to audition for the backup goalie role behind Ilya Sorokin 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, when 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, as Vanecek has become a journeyman depth option in net.
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Islanders' Vitek Vanecek: 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.
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.
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Islanders' Vitek Vanecek: Lands one-year contract
Vanecek signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Islanders on Wednesday, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports.
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.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: 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.
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.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Starting in Calgary
Vanecek will be in goal Sunday in Calgary, per Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
This will be Vanecek's first start since March 26 against the Capitals, when 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 have dropped three consecutive games against Dallas, Colorado and Seattle, netting a total of just five goals during their skid.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Yields four goals in loss
Vanecek stopped 19 of 23 shots in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Flames.
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.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Torched for six goals
Vanecek stopped 17 of 23 shots in Thursday's 7-4 loss to the Capitals.
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.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Drawing start Thursday
Vanecek will start Thursday's home game against the Capitals, Brogan Houston of the Deseret News reports.
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.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: 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.
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.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Decent showing in loss
Vanecek stopped 20 of 22 shots in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Ducks. The last two goals by Anaheim were empty-netters.
Vanecek put in a decent effort, but it wasn't enough. He's allowed eight goals on 94 shots over his four appearances in March. The 30-year-old is down to 5-10-3 with a 2.71 GAA and an .891 save percentage over 18 appearances this season. The Mammoth's goaltending usage continues to be unpredictable for fantasy managers, especially without clear communication from head coach Andre Tourigny. Expect Karel Vejmelka in goal versus the Kings on Sunday. Vanecek has played well enough lately to get his fair share of looks, especially if the Mammoth want to keep Vejmelka -- the league's busiest goalie -- fresh for a potential playoff run.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Will start Friday
Vanecek will start at home versus the Ducks on Friday.
Once again, Vanecek is getting the start after a previous report indicated it would be Karel Vejmelka. The gamesmanship from head coach Andre Tourigny continues to frustrate fantasy managers, but Vanecek has been steady lately, allowing just six goals on 72 shots over his last three games.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Earns win over Dallas
Vanecek stopped 27 of 30 shots in Monday's 6-3 win over the Stars.
Vanecek was beaten once in each period, but he didn't have to sweat it out for the win after the Mammoth scored four goals in the final frame. Vanecek has made just three starts since the Olympic break, going 2-0-1 with solid peripherals, including a 1.98 GAA and an impressive .917 save percentage. That said, Vanecek should remain as the clear No. 2 in goaltending duties behind Karel Vejmelka, meaning his fantasy upside will be more matchup-based than anything else.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Tending twine Monday
Vanecek will start Monday's road matchup against the Stars.
Despite fellow netminder Karel Vejmelka leaving the ice first at Monday's morning skate, Vanecek will instead grab his first start since Mar. 9. Overall, the 30-year-old Vanecek has a 4-9-3 record, a 2.74 GAA and an .889 save percentage across 16 appearances this season. Since the Olympic break, Vanecek has posted a shutout while going 1-0-1 with three goals allowed on 42 shots over his pair of starts. He'll look to carry that momentum into Monday's fixture with the Stars, who have an elite 3.45 goals per game this season.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Tagged with OT loss
Vanecek stopped 23 of 26 shots in Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Blackhawks.
Vanecek has started in two of Utah's last three games, going 1-0-1 while stopping 39 of 42 shots faced. He'll revert to his regular backup role when the Mammoth take on the Wild on Tuesday in the second leg of a back-to-back set. With only four appearances since the beginning of the calendar year, it's hard to trust Vanecek into anything more than a streaming option. That said, in those four games, he's gone 2-0-2 with a 2.22 GAA and a .917 save percentage.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Expected between pipes
Vanecek is slated to patrol the crease for Monday's road game versus the Blackhawks, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports.
Vanecek has appeared in just three of the Mammoth's 23 contests since the start of 2026, posting a 2-0-1 record with one shutout and six goals allowed on 82 shots in those games. Given his limited work rate, the 30-year-old netminder won't offer much in the way of fantasy value, considering he will primarily feature in back-to-backs.
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Mammoth's Vitek Vanecek: Posts 16-save shutout
Vanecek recorded a 16-save shutout in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Flyers.
Vanecek didn't have a lot of work throughout the game, but he got the job done and secured his first shutout of the campaign. This was the first start for the 30-year-old netminder since Jan. 27, and since he's the team's clear No. 2 option between the pipes behind Karel Vejmelka, Vanecek won't have a lot of upside -- and even when he starts, his value is strictly matchup-based.
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