Mammoth sign goaltender Vitek Vanecek to one-year contract

The Utah Mammoth have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with unrestricted free agent goaltender Vitek Vanecek, the club announced Tuesday afternoon.

Vanecek, 29, appeared in 25 games split between the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers during the 2024-25 regular season, posting a 5-14-4 record, one shutout, and an .884 save percentage.

Acquired by Florida at the 2025 trade deadline, Vanecek replaced Spencer Knight as Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup down the stretch and into the playoffs, in which he sat on the bench for every single second as the Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. (Vanecek’s name will be engraved on the Cup regardless).

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Vanecek’s new contract for the 2025-26 season carries a $1.5 million cap hit. The 6’2″ netminder will provide the Mammoth with some extra insurance behind starter Karel Vejmelka as Connor Ingram fights to return to top form after a stint in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program.

A second-round pick (No. 39 overall) of the Washington Capitals in 2014, Vanecek spent parts of five AHL seasons with the Hershey Bears before finally getting his shot with the big club in the 2020-21 season. He performed well over two full seasons in Washington, winning 41 out of 79 games played and posting a .908 save percentage.

With the Capitals looking to upgrade in goal in the 2022 offseason, they sent Vanecek to the New Jersey Devils for a pair of draft picks. But while Vanecek’s 2022-23 season was the best of his career, his performance declined substantially the following year and the Devils sent him to San Jose at the 2024 trade deadline.

Through 188 career NHL games over parts of five seasons with the Capitals, Devils, Sharks, and Panthers, Vanecek has put together a 96-56-21 record to go along with 10 shutouts and a .902 save percentage. He’s also appeared in 10 playoff games with New Jersey and Washington, going 2-4 with an .834.