Karel
Vejmelka
G · UTA · Excellent
- PAL
- 81
- WAR
- 4.4
- Value
- 78
- SV%
- .897
2025-26№ 8 / 98
Karel Vejmelka (Utah Mammoth) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Karel Vejmelka
#70G
Utah Mammoth
HEIGHT : 193 cm · WEIGHT : 100 kg · CATCHES : R
Born : May 24, 1996 · Trebic, Czechia
Drafted : 2015 · NSH · round 5, pick #145
Contract : $4,750,000 · 2025-26 → 2029-30 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFAM-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Utah Mammoth | 13 | 6 | 6 | 3.29 | .870 | 1 |
| 2025-26 | Utah Mammoth | 64 | 38 | 20 | 2.75 | .897 | 2 |
| 2024-25 | Utah Hockey Club | 58 | 26 | 22 | 2.58 | .904 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | Arizona Coyotes | 38 | 13 | 19 | 3.35 | .897 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | Arizona Coyotes | 50 | 18 | 24 | 3.43 | .900 | 3 |
| 2021-22 | Arizona Coyotes | 52 | 13 | 32 | 3.68 | .898 | 1 |
| NHL totals | 275 | 114 | 123 | 3.11 | .898 | 9 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Utah Mammoth | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3.13 | .885 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3.13 | .885 | 0 | |
Karel Vejmelka: our analysis
2025-26 season: 64 GP, 38 W, 20 L, .897 SV%, 2.75 GAA, 2 SO. WAR 4.4 (8th of 98) · PAL 81, excellent.
In 2025-26, Karel Vejmelka, 30, posts a PAL Rating of 81 out of 100 (excellent), and his WAR of 4.4 ranks 8th among 98 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: workload (99, among the best in the league), impact (86, among the best in the league) and consistency (81, well above average). On the other hand, high danger (29, below average) holds him back.
GSAx: +12.6 (goals saved above expected).
A slight dip from 2024-25, when his PAL was 85; his WAR went from 5.7 to 4.4.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 78 (very good contract) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Karel Vejmelka's story
Raised in Třebíč, Karel Vejmelka developed his early hockey skills with SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč before moving into the youth ranks of HC Pardubice. He stepped up to the Czech Extraliga with Pardubice during the 2014–15 season, gaining his first taste of top-level club play and building the fundamentals that would carry him through the Czech system and eventually across the Atlantic.
Selected 145th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Vejmelka remained in the Czech leagues rather than signing immediately in North America. After a lone appearance for Dynamo Pardubice in 2015–16 he transferred to HC Kometa Brno on 28 November 2015. A short loan to HC Dukla Jihlava interrupted his time at Brno, but he spent the next five seasons primarily with Kometa Brno while Nashville did not offer him a contract.
On 5 May 2021 Vejmelka signed a one-year entry-level deal with the Arizona Coyotes. He won a roster spot to start the 2021–22 season and made his NHL debut on 17 October 2021, turning aside 32 of 33 shots in a 2–1 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres. When starter Carter Hutton was injured, Vejmelka took on a heavier workload and established himself as a dependable option in net; the Coyotes rewarded him with a three-year, $8.175 million extension on 21 March 2022. An unusual record from that first NHL year notes the shortest time a starter was on the ice before being pulled—59 seconds, versus the Seattle Kraken on 6 November 2021.
Following the suspension of the Coyotes franchise after the 2023–24 regular season, team assets were transferred to the expansion Utah Mammoth, making Vejmelka a member of the new club. He became Utah’s starting goaltender in his first season there and received a five-year, $23.75 million extension on 6 March 2025. In the 2025–26 season he was the first goalie to reach 30 wins, logged more ice time than any other player, and finished second in wins, shots against and saves.
Internationally, Vejmelka represented Czechia at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and finished the tournament with a gold medal. His game centres on steady positional play, an ability to handle heavy shot volumes and consistent performance over extended stretches.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- Starts
- 12
- Shots against
- 301
- Saves
- 262
- %ARR / SV%
- 87.0 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Trend
Trend
Stable
- Goals saved above expected per 100 shots: -0.05 in 22-23, +0.50 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 85 → 81
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 30: prime years
The trend is a hint, not a verdict. It reads recent seasons and PAL Rating (age only shapes the outlook); it knows nothing about future injuries, trades, or the defense in front of the goalie.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
4.4
wins above replacement
8 of 98
PAL Rating
81/ 100
Performance · Excellent
14 of 74 at the position
Value Rating
78/ 100
Very good contract
4.75 M$ · expected PAL 54
See full detailsHide details
- Efficiency
- 74
- Impact
- 86
- High danger
- 29
- Consistency
- 81
- Workload
- 99
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | UTA | 4.4 | 81 | 78 | 4.75 M$ |
| 2024-25 | UTA | 5.7 | 85 | 89 | 2.73 M$ |
| 2023-24 | ARI | -0.4 | 18 | 15 | 2.73 M$ |
| 2022-23 | ARI | 1.6 | 66 | 58 | 2.73 M$ |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
4.4
wins above replacement
1.3 to 6.5 — 90% interval
8 of 98 goalies
+23.4 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- Goals saved above expected
- +12.6
- Average → replacement
- +10.8
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | UTA | 64 | 4.4 | 1.3 to 6.5 | 8/98 |
| 2024-25 | UTA | 55 | 5.7 | 3.2 to 9.4 | 6/99 |
| 2023-24 | ARI | 38 | -0.4 | -2.2 to 2.7 | 76/98 |
| 2022-23 | ARI | 50 | 1.6 | -1.8 to 4.4 | 25/107 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →NHL EDGE tracks every shot with a chip in the puck: where it came from, how dangerous it was, and what the goalie did with it. The percentile places the goalie within the league.
- Save %
- .87020th percentileleague avg. .890
- High-danger save %
- .78338th percentileleague avg. .804
- Games above .900
- 50.0 %72nd percentileleague avg. 45.8 %
See full detailsHide details
- Goal support per game
- 3.1355th percentileleague avg. 3.07
- Goal differential per 60
- -0.1643rd percentileleague avg. 0.07
Save % by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
OTT
PHI
MIN
TBL
SEA
EDM
TOR
BUF
BOS
NJD
NYR
CHIKarel Vejmelka: frequently asked questions
What is Karel Vejmelka's record in 2026-27?
Karel Vejmelka has 6 wins in 13 games in 2026-27, with a .870 save percentage and a 3.29 goals-against average.
How old is Karel Vejmelka?
Karel Vejmelka is 30 years old: he was born on May 25, 1996.
How tall is Karel Vejmelka, and how much does he weigh?
Karel Vejmelka is 6'4" (193 cm) and weighs 220 lb (100 kg).
Where is Karel Vejmelka from?
Czechia: Karel Vejmelka was born in Trebic, Czechia.
What team does Karel Vejmelka play for?
Karel Vejmelka plays for the Utah Mammoth in the NHL, at G, wearing number 70.
Is Karel Vejmelka injured?
No: Karel Vejmelka is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Karel Vejmelka?
Karel Vejmelka produced 4.4 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 8th of 98 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 81 out of 100: excellent for his position.
How much does Karel Vejmelka make?
Karel Vejmelka earns $4.8M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 78 out of 100 (very good contract): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Karel Vejmelka's contract end?
Karel Vejmelka's contract runs through the 2029-30 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is Karel Vejmelka overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 78 out of 100 (very good contract), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Karel Vejmelka a top-10 player at his position?
Yes: by WAR, he ranks 8th of 98 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Karel Vejmelka getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 85 in 2024-25 to 81 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are Karel Vejmelka's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Karel Vejmelka has 275 games, 114 wins and 9 shutouts. His best season: 2025-26, with 38 wins.
Where was Karel Vejmelka drafted?
Karel Vejmelka was drafted 145th overall (round 5) by Nashville Predators in 2015.
How does Karel Vejmelka perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Karel Vejmelka has 6 games and 2 wins in his career.
Which player is most similar to Karel Vejmelka?
Dan Vladar: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Dan Vladar's page →What is Karel Vejmelka's nationality?
Karel Vejmelka is Czech. Internationally: Czechia; represented Czechia at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and won a gold medal.
What awards has Karel Vejmelka won?
Holds the NHL record for the shortest time a starting goaltender spent on the ice before being pulled: 59 seconds (6 November 2021).
How many championships has Karel Vejmelka won?
1: Gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Championship with Czechia.
Where did Karel Vejmelka play before turning pro?
Made his Czech Extraliga debut with HC Pardubice during the 2014–15 season.
See also: his Utah Mammoth teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)