Vitek Vanecek

Vitek Vanecek

28-Year-Old GoalieG
San Jose Sharks
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Vanacek was acquired in a trade with New Jersey last March, but he hasn't played a game yet for San Jose due to injury. Before getting hurt, Vanacek posted a 17-9-3 record while struggling with a 3.18 GAA and an .890 save percentage in 32 appearances. He was excellent in 2022-23, earning a mark of 33-11-4 with a 2.45 GAA and a .911 save percentage. Even if he's healthy, Vanacek's fantasy value will be slim after the team traded for Yaroslav Askarov in August. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract with the Devils in July of 2022.
Yields four goals in loss
GSan Jose Sharks
November 7, 2024
Vanecek allowed four goals on 30 shots in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Wild. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Vanecek was rewarded with a second straight start after a 49-save effort in an overtime win against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, but he couldn't replicate his heroics. This was the first time Vanecek has started consecutive games this season, something Mackenzie Blackwood has done on two occasions. That signals Vanecek is still in the backup role, though both goalies should have plenty of playing time in 2024-25. Vanecek is at a 2-5-0 record with a 3.32 GAA and an .898 save percentage over eight appearances (seven starts). The Sharks begin a four-game road trip back east with a visit to the Devils on Sunday, followed by a game in Philadelphia on Monday -- that should allow both goalies to get a start over the next two contests.
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2024 NHL Game Log
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2023 NHL Game Log
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2022 NHL Game Log
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2021 NHL Game Log
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2020 NHL Game Log
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2019 NHL Game Log
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2018 NHL Game Log
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    56:26
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
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Doubts about Vanecek's ability to be an NHL starter were at least partially quelled in 2022-23, as he posted a 33-11-4 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 52 games in his first year with the Devils. The 27-year-old netminder has a chance to grow with a team that could take another significant leap forward propeled by top-end forward talent, though the loss of Ryan Graves and Damon Severson could put the defense in an uncomfortable spot. Vancek is now firmly a top-20 goalie in fantasy, and playing on a strong team will push him closer to the top 10, especially in formats that put a greater significance on wins.
The Capitals completely remade their goaltending room this offseason, dealing Vanecek to New Jersey and not qualifying Ilya Samsonov. Those two split time almost evenly in 2021-22, with Vanecek playing 42 games and finishing with a 20-12-6 record, a 2.67 GAA and a .908 save percentage. Those are virtually identical to the numbers he posted two seasons ago and a rough baseline of what to expect moving forward should the 26-year-old netminder be able to wrestle the Devils' No. 1 job away from the underwhelming Mackenzie Blackwood in 2022-23. New Jersey would likely prefer that Vanecek wins the competition considering the team handed him a fresh three-year, $10.2 million contract in July.
Vanecek saw action in 37 of Washington's 56 regular season games last year, which is amazing considering he was originally expected to be the club's No. 3 goaltender behind Ilya Samsonov and Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist ended up missing the season with a heart issue and Samosnov missed a ton of time due to COVID-19 protocols. Vanecek's numbers were solid (21-10-4, 2.69 GAA, .908 save percentage), if unspectacular. Following the year, the 25-year-old was exposed to Seattle and selected in the expansion draft before being dealt back to the Capitals for a draft pick just days later. Vanecek has exceeded expectations, but he's clearly behind Samsonov on the depth chart, who carried the load for Washington in the playoffs.
Vanecek took a big step forward with AHL Hershey last year, posting a 19-10-1 record with a 2.26 GAA and a .917 save percentage in 31 appearances. That's still not enough to trust him with a starting NHL job -- Vanecek will compete with Craig Anderson and Pheonix Copley for the right to be Ilya Samsonov's primary backup for the 2020-21 season. The 24-year-old Vanecek will likely ascend to the NHL on a more permanent basis in the next two years or so, but Samsonov will be the main man in Washington for the foreseeable future.
More Fantasy News
Starting against Minnesota
GSan Jose Sharks
November 7, 2024
Vanecek was the first goalie off Thursday, Max Miller of NHL.com reports, indicating that he'll draw the start at home against the Wild.
ANALYSIS
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Stellar in overtime win
GSan Jose Sharks
November 5, 2024
Vanecek stopped 49 of 50 shots in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime win over the Blue Jackets.
ANALYSIS
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First off Tuesday
GSan Jose Sharks
November 5, 2024
Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now, indicating he will patrol the home crease Tuesday versus Columbus.
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Earns win over Kings
GSan Jose Sharks
October 29, 2024
Vanecek stopped 26 of 28 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Kings.
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Starting Tuesday
GSan Jose Sharks
October 29, 2024
Vanecek will patrol the home crease Tuesday against the Kings, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
May play Tuesday
GSan Jose Sharks
October 29, 2024
Vanecek will likely patrol the home crease Tuesday versus LA, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.
ANALYSIS
Vanecek could get the second half of the Sharks' back-to-back after Mackenzie Blackwood played in Monday's 5-4 overtime win over Utah. The 28-year-old Vanecek has posted a mark of 0-4-0 with a 4.00 GAA and an .869 save percentage in five appearances this season.
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