Vitek Vanecek has signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Utah Mammoth. Previously, he played for the San Jose Sharks and was a backup for the Florida Panthers during their Stanley Cup run. Vanecek has a career save percentage of .902 and a goals-against average of 2.83. His signing may indicate that fellow goalie Connor Ingram could be unavailable at the start of the season. Vanecek and starting goalie Karel Vejmelka are both from Czechia, highlighting a link among the goaltenders.
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.
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.
Bill Armstrong mentioned that with Vanecek, there's potential for him to push and really win some key games for the Mammoth.
The Vanecek signing could indicate that Connor Ingram will not be ready to go for the start of the year, although Armstrong has not directly stated that.
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