Coyotes Commit to Karel Vejmelka with Multi-Year Extension

When the Coyotes underwent nearly a complete overhaul of players in the summer of 2021, it included parting ways with goaltenders Darcy Kuemper, Adin Hill and Antti Raanta who manned the crease for 96% of the games the previous season.
Replacing them would require Coyotes General Manager Bill Armstrong and his staff to get creative with finding a successor as they navigated the organization's new direction.

One of the additions included 25-year-old, Trebic Czech Republic native Karel Vejmelka who had spent the better part of the last three seasons in the Czech Extraliga. He took advantage of his opportunity to show what he can do against NHL competition in his rookie season, and has impressed the Coyotes executive brass enough to earn a three-year contract extension on March 21.
"It's an unbelievable feeling for me to stay here for another few years," said Vejmelka. "I'm really excited and I'm looking forward to continuing to work with the staff. It's a great organization and great group of guys, so I'm super excited."

Originally drafted by Nashville in the fifth round (145th overall) in 2015, Vejmelka opted to not sign with the Predators and became a free agent once his signing rights with them expired. Instead, he continued to play in the Czech Republic which was highlighted by back-to-back championships in 2017-18.
On May 5, 2021, the Coyotes signed Vejmelka to a one-year, two-way contract with the general expectation that at best he'd compete for a starting job in the AHL. But after turning heads in both the preseason and at the Rookie Tournament, the netminder won an NHL job and forced his way onto the Coyotes despite 2021-22 being his first season in North America. He made his NHL debut in game two of the season in Buffalo where he also impressed by recorded 32 saves in a shootout loss, the fourth-highest save total in an NHL debut in Coyotes/Jets history.

Fast forward to March, and Vejmelka stands out among his rookie contemporaries by ranking second in games (41) and saves (1,229), third in SV% (.906, min. 20 GP) and fifth in wins (11).
"We are very pleased to sign Karel to a contract extension," said Armstrong. "He is a big, talented goaltender who has a great work ethic and has established himself as a very good NHL goalie. We look forward to having him on our roster next season."
The work ethic Armstrong spoke of is a big reason Vejmelka has been able to adjust to the NHL lifestyle so quickly and steal games for the Coyotes. He's one of four goalies in the League to record multiple wins of 45-plus saves, and his 46-save shutout on Nov. 29 is tied with Kuemper for the most saves in a clean sheet this season.
Armstrong re-upping Vejmelka for the next three years indicates the Coyotes see a lot of potential in him. In turn, Vejmelka gets a longer leash to work and improve his game even further in order to seize the starting goaltender job for the foreseeable future.
"I'm looking forward to continuing to work with [Goaltending Coach] Corey Schwab," said Vejmelka. "He's a really good goalie coach and a really good person. In terms of continuing to get better, it's all about the daily routine and the daily hard work. It's been great to work with him."