Vitek
Vanecek
G · NYI · Very poor
- PAL
- 16
- WAR
- -0.4
- Value
- 17
- SV%
- .883
2025-26№ 72 / 98
Vitek Vanecek (New York Islanders) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Vitek Vanecek
HEIGHT : 188 cm · WEIGHT : 85 kg · CATCHES : L
Born : January 8, 1996 · Havlickuv Brod, Czechia
Drafted : 2014 · WSH · round 2, pick #39
Contract : $1,000,000 · 2026-27 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Utah Mammoth | 22 | 5 | 13 | 2.93 | .883 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | Florida Panthers | 7 | 2 | 4 | 3.00 | .890 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | San Jose Sharks | 18 | 3 | 10 | 3.88 | .882 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | New Jersey Devils | 32 | 17 | 9 | 3.18 | .890 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | New Jersey Devils | 52 | 33 | 11 | 2.45 | .911 | 3 |
| 2021-22 | Washington Capitals | 42 | 20 | 12 | 2.67 | .908 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | Washington Capitals | 37 | 21 | 10 | 2.69 | .908 | 2 |
| NHL totals | 210 | 101 | 69 | 2.84 | .900 | 11 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | New Jersey Devils | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4.64 | .825 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Washington Capitals | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4.21 | .863 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Washington Capitals | 1 | — | — | 4.56 | .750 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4.52 | .834 | 0 | |
Honours
- 🏆 Stanley Cuponce · 2024-25
Vitek Vanecek: our analysis
2025-26 season: 22 GP, 5 W, 13 L, .883 SV%, 2.93 GAA, 1 SO. WAR -0.4 (72nd of 98) · PAL 16, very poor.
In 2025-26, Vitek Vanecek, 30, posts a PAL Rating of 16 out of 100 (very poor), and his WAR of -0.4 ranks 72nd among 98 regulars, in the bottom half.
On the other hand, workload (15, among the weakest in the league) and consistency (21, well below average) hold him back.
GSAx: -5.5 (goals saved above expected).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 2 in 2024-25 to 16; his WAR went from -1.9 to -0.4.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 17 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Vitek Vanecek's story
Growing up in Havlíčkův Brod, Vítek Vaněček developed his goaltending under local coaches before moving to HC Bílí Tygři Liberec's system in 2013. He gained early senior experience with HC Benátky nad Jizerou and made brief appearances in the Czech Extraliga during the 2014–15 season while still connected to his hometown program.
Selected 39th overall by the Washington Capitals at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Vaněček signed a three-year entry-level deal on 15 July 2014. He crossed to North America the following season, splitting time between the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays and the AHL's Hershey Bears as he adjusted to the pro game.
Success in the minors brought individual honours — ECHL All-Rookie Team in 2015–16 and AHL All-Star appearances in 2019 and 2020, earning MVP honours at the 2020 event. Circumstances in Washington opened his NHL window: he debuted on 15 January 2021, collected Rookie of the Month for January 2021, and recorded his first NHL shutout on 15 March 2021.
Vaněček's career has included several moves: claimed by Seattle in the July 2021 expansion draft then returned to Washington days later; traded to New Jersey on 8 July 2022 and signed to a three-year extension; sent to San Jose on 8 March 2024; traded to Florida on 5 March 2025, where he served as backup and appeared in seven regular-season games while the Panthers captured the Stanley Cup that year. He signed a one-year deal with the Utah Mammoth on 1 July 2025, backed up Karel Vejmelka and appeared in 22 games, and later agreed to a one-year contract with the New York Islanders on 1 July 2026.
Internationally, Vaněček has represented the Czech Republic at junior levels, including three games at the 2015 World Junior Championships and a silver medal at the 2014 U18 world tournament. On the ice, he presents a composed style born of varied experience across leagues, able to step in as a starter or stabilize a crease as a reliable second option.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- Starts
- 19
- Shots against
- 506
- Saves
- 447
- %ARR / SV%
- 88.3 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Trend
Trend
Stable
- Goals saved above expected per 100 shots: +0.60 in 22-23, -0.72 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 2 → 16
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
-0.4
wins above replacement
72 of 98
PAL Rating
16/ 100
Performance · Very poor
60 of 74 at the position
Value Rating
17/ 100
Very poor return
1.50 M$ · expected PAL 49
See full detailsHide details
- Efficiency
- 28
- Impact
- 35
- High danger
- 28
- Consistency
- 21
- Workload
- 15
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 | -0.4 | 16 | 17 | 1.50 M$ |
| 2024-25 | FLA | -1.9 | 2 | 2 | 3.40 M$ |
| 2023-24 | NJD | -1.5 | 5 | 3 | 3.40 M$ |
| 2022-23 | NJD | 3.6 | 81 | 72 | 3.40 M$ |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.4
wins above replacement
-2.1 to 0.9 — 90% interval
72 of 98 goalies
-2.2 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- Goals saved above expected
- -5.5
- Average → replacement
- +3.2
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | UTA | 22 | -0.4 | -2.1 to 0.9 | 72/98 |
| 2024-25 | FLA | 24 | -1.9 | -3.8 to 1.2 | 92/99 |
| 2023-24 | NJD | 32 | -1.5 | -3.0 to -0.0 | 92/98 |
| 2022-23 | NJD | 52 | 3.6 | 1.3 to 6.3 | 14/107 |
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 %
- .88320th percentileleague avg. .896
- High-danger save %
- .80136th percentileleague avg. .811
- Games above .900
- 36.8 %12th percentileleague avg. 49.0 %
See full detailsHide details
- Goal support per game
- 2.295th percentileleague avg. 2.99
- Goal differential per 60
- -0.657th percentileleague avg. 0.11
Save % by zone
2025-2026 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2025-26
STL
CGY
WSH
EDM
ANA
DAL
CHI
PHI
FLA
CBJ
NSH
COL
BOS
SJS
OTT
TOR
WPGVitek Vanecek: frequently asked questions
What is Vitek Vanecek's record in 2025-26?
Vitek Vanecek has 5 wins in 22 games in 2025-26, with a .883 save percentage and a 2.93 goals-against average.
How old is Vitek Vanecek?
Vitek Vanecek is 30 years old: he was born on January 9, 1996.
How tall is Vitek Vanecek, and how much does he weigh?
Vitek Vanecek is 6'2" (188 cm) and weighs 187 lb (85 kg).
Where is Vitek Vanecek from?
Czechia: Vitek Vanecek was born in Havlickuv Brod, Czechia.
What team does Vitek Vanecek play for?
Vitek Vanecek plays for the New York Islanders in the NHL, at G, wearing number 41.
Is Vitek Vanecek injured?
No: Vitek Vanecek is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Vitek Vanecek?
Vitek Vanecek produced -0.4 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 72nd of 98 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 16 out of 100: very poor for his position.
How much does Vitek Vanecek make?
Vitek Vanecek earns $1.5M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 17 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Vitek Vanecek's contract end?
Vitek Vanecek's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Vitek Vanecek overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 17 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Vitek Vanecek a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 72nd 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 Vitek Vanecek getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 2 in 2024-25 to 16 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are Vitek Vanecek's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Vitek Vanecek has 210 games, 101 wins and 11 shutouts. His best season: 2022-23, with 33 wins.
Where was Vitek Vanecek drafted?
Vitek Vanecek was drafted 39th overall (round 2) by Washington Capitals in 2014.
How does Vitek Vanecek perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Vitek Vanecek has 10 games and 2 wins in his career.
Which player is most similar to Vitek Vanecek?
Charlie Lindgren: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Charlie Lindgren's page →What is Vitek Vanecek's nationality?
Vitek Vanecek is Czech. Internationally: Czech Republic: 3 games at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
What awards has Vitek Vanecek won?
Named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team (2015–16 season) ; Selected to the AHL All-Star Classic roster in 2019 ; Selected to the AHL All-Star Classic roster in 2020 ; MVP of the AHL All-Star Classic (2020) ; NHL Rookie of the Month (January 2021).
How many championships has Vitek Vanecek won?
2: Atlantic Division champion at the AHL All-Star Classic (2020) — division led by Vaněček; Won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers (2025).
Where did Vitek Vanecek play before turning pro?
Youth with HC Havlíčkův Brod through under-18; joined HC Bílí Tygři Liberec in 2013; in 2014–15 played 2 games for HC Bílí Tygři Liberec and spent most of the season with HC Benátky nad Jizerou.
See also: his New York Islanders teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)