Latest news with #VitekVanecek
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sharks Have Boom-Or-Bust Potential With Current Goaltending
Over the last 12 months, the San Jose Sharks' goaltending has undergone wholesale changes. MacKenzie Blackwood is now a member of the Colorado Avalanche, and Vitek Vanecek won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers before finding his way to the Utah Mammoth this summer. Meanwhile, Alexandar Georgiev and Georgi Romanov are currently unrestricted free agents. All four of those netminders suited up for the Sharks during the 2024-25 season, and now they've moved on.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Utah Mammoth sign goaltender Vitek Vanecek
Florida Panthers goaltender Vitek Vanecek watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Detroit. | Jose Juarez The Utah Mammoth have their goalie: Stanley Cup champion Vitek Vanecek. The two sides have agreed on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. Vanecek, 29, may have been the biggest trade deadline beneficiary last season. He went from the league-worst San Jose Sharks to the eventual Cup-winning Florida Panthers. He only played seven games in the new uniform, and none in the playoffs, but his presence as a backup goalie throughout the playoff run was good enough to put his name on the trophy. 'He's had some monstrous years in the NHL,' said general manager Bill Armstrong of his new goalie. 'Corey Schwab (Utah's goaltending coach) has always done a great job at bringing goaltenders' games back to life. With (Vanecek), I think there's more in there. I think there's some ability to push and really win some games for us — and key games." Advertisement Vanecek is entering his sixth NHL season, having played previously for the Washington Capitals and the New Jersey Devils, in addition to the aforementioned Sharks and Panthers. He has a career save percentage of .902 and a goals-against average of 2.83. The Mammoth now have three goaltenders signed to one-way contracts. The Vanecek signing could indicate that Connor Ingram will not be ready to go for the start of the year, though Armstrong has not directly stated that that's the case. If Ingram is ready at some point, there's always a market for goalies and it shouldn't be hard to move someone. Both Vanecek and projected starting goaltender Karel Vejmelka hail from Czechia (as does Utah's top goalie prospect, Michael Hrabal). Their hometowns are about an hour apart, according to Google Maps. Other Utah Mammoth news Additional Tuesday transactions regarding the Mammoth include:
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What was up with the goalie stare down before Game 4? Panthers' Vanecek, Oilers' Pickard explain
It's not every day goaltender warmup routines become a story. But it certainly became one in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. As the teams took the ice pregame at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday, Florida Panthers backup goaltender Vitek Vanecek locked eyes with Edmonton Oilers starter Stuart Skinner at the red line between the team's benches. Eventually, Edmonton's Calvin Pickard got in on the fun as well, making it a two-on-one stare down before they ultimately went their separate ways. So ... what exactly happened? 'I was just doing my routine,' Vanecek said, 'and then [Pickard] said 'if I want to go stretch with him.' I said 'no, I'm good, I like this side.'' Has this always been Vanecek's routine? 'It's a new one,' he said. 'For this series.' Pickard, who entered in relief for Skinner following the first period on Thursday, confirmed that's how things unfolded. 'It's nothing,' Pickard said. 'I just went over there asking, because he's just, I don't know, I think he's trying to get into [Skinner's] head. But it really wasn't anything. Obviously, the cameras, you can't hide out there. You guys are making it be a bit of a story, but I was just asking if he wanted to stretch next to me. He said, 'No.' I said, 'That's OK.'' Vanecek was able to appreciate how Pickard handled himself after being thrust into Game 4. Florida built a 3-0 lead against Skinner in the first period before Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch made the change. Pickard then went on to stop 22 of 23 shots he faced as Edmonton rallied to win 5-4 in overtime. 'It's always tough. He's an old guy, a lot of experience, and then he come into the game. He played great. I think that's something special for him.' Pickard will be back in net for Edmonton for Game 5 on Saturday at Edmonton's Rogers Place, with the best-of-7 series tied 2-2. Will another stare down ensue? 'I don't have much routine there,' Pickard said. 'I'll be probably facing our end.'
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Goalies are such weirdos': Fans react as NHL goalie chaos in Stanley Cup warm-ups goes viral
NHL fans are going wild over the viral video of Calvin Pickard and Vitek Vanecek's goalie faceoff before Game 4. Calvin Pickard not only appeared at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final to serve as a backup for Edmonton Oilers starter Stuart Skinner—he also swiped the internet for attention during warm-ups with his side-splitting, memeable exchange that had NHL fans laughing hard. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now NHL fans welcome the strangest brotherhood in sports In a moment shared far and wide on social media, Calvin Pickard slid over to Florida Panthers backup Vitek Vanecek, who stood motionless like a statue at center ice. Calvin Pickard, noticing the peculiar immobility, nonchalantly asked Vitek Vanecek if he'd like to stretch along with him. The reaction? A chilly, wordless rejection, and Calvin Pickard skates away with equal deadpan enthusiasm. The video went viral immediately. NHL goalies have always been perceived as a unique lot—serious, quirky, and sometimes unintentionally comedic. And then this pregame moment between Calvin Pickard and Vitek Vanecek just made that reputation for oddness grow. Corey Perry Warmup Routine Reddit exploded with comments from amused viewers. One commenter summed up the mood best: 'Goalies are such weirdos. I love it.' 'This made me laugh so hard during Pickard's post-game interview. What an adorable dork,' another said. Speculation regarding the interaction abounded online, with some speculating that Vanecek's statue-like demeanor was not necessarily an awkward energy. 'Do you think they are shit talking or just trying to get in their head, or just talking like buddies,' one Reddit user said to which someone replied, 'Stolarz did this last year to get in Skinners head. They must have felt it worked, and now their new backup is doing the same. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It is intentional.' Fans also couldn't help but catch the dysfunctional Panther growl sound playing in the arena background of the video. "The panther growl in the background kills me," one user typed, adding to the levels of humor that made the moment almost scripted. And yet, amidst all the humor, there was a current of appreciation for hockey's most eccentric position. 'Goalies are a different breed!' one fan said. Also read: Although Stuart Skinner did not survive past the first period of Game 4, maybe the real mental game was already afoot before the puck was dropped—with Vanecek playing chess and Pickard merely attempting to stretch. Either way, the odd pregame ritual reminded everyone of one thing: goalies aren't merely players—they're a show in themselves.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers challenging road trip continues with stop on Long Island
The Florida Panthers did not get off to a good start on Saturday night in Montreal, and it cost them. If the Cats want to bounce back on Sunday and avoid a pair of losses in consecutive days, they'll need to show up from the start. Just as hungry as the Canadiens were in their home barn, you better believe the New York Islanders are just as desperate for every point in the standings they can get. Entering play Sunday, the Isles find themselves six points back of the New York Rangers for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and with four teams to climb over just to reach their crosstown rivals. Florida, meanwhile, remains atop the Atlantic Division, currently holding a four point lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning, who each have 81 points. Only four points back of the Bolts and Leafs and turning some heads as they climbed up the standings are the Ottawa Senators, another team the Cats will need to keep an eye on as the postseason draws closer. In terms of recent play, both the Panthers and Islanders have left something to be desired. Florida has dropped two of three on their current six-game road trip while the Islanders have lost three straight and are in danger of falling too far behind in the Wild Card race. The Panthers will likely turn to Vitek Vanecek in goal on the back end of the back-to-back after Sergei Bobrovsky played on Saturday night in Montreal. Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Sunday's tilt on Long Island: Carter Verhaeghe – Sasha Barkov – Sam Reinhart Mackie Samoskevich – Sam Bennett – Evan Rodrigues Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Jesper Boqvist A.J. Greer – Nico Sturm – Tomas Nosek Gus Forsling – Seth Jones Niko Mikkola – Dmitry Kulikov Nate Schmidt – Uvis Balinskis Scratches: Jonah Gadjovich, Brad Marchand LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Three takeaways: Panthers struggle again with Montreal, Maurice quite unhappy with result Smoked meat: Panthers can't complete uphill climb, fall 3-1 in Montreal Panthers road trip continues against Montreal squad fighting for playoff spot The Hockey Show: Trade Deadline fallout, playoff posturing with Emily Kaplan Three takeaways: Panthers slow Leafs rush game, finding success without key players
