Vanecek, a second-round pick (No. 39) in the 2014 NHL Draft, was the second Czech Republic-born goaltender ever selected by the Capitals, following Michal Neuvirth (2006, No. 34).
He signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 15, 2014, but played the 2014-15 season in the Czech Republic. He had a 1.50 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in two games in the Czech Extraliga, the country's top professional league, and a 2.24 GAA and .925 save percentage in 20 games with HC Benatky nad Jizerou in the Czech second division. Vanecek also had a 4.31 GAA and .829 save percentage in three games for the sixth-place Czech Republic at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Vanecek, a second-round pick (No. 39) in the 2014 NHL Draft, was the second Czech Republic-born goaltender ever selected by the Capitals, following Michal Neuvirth (2006, No. 34).
He signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 15, 2014, but played the 2014-15 season in the Czech Republic. He had a 1.50 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in two games in the Czech Extraliga, the country's top professional league, and a 2.24 GAA and .925 save percentage in 20 games with HC Benatky nad Jizerou in the Czech second division. Vanecek also had a 4.31 GAA and .829 save percentage in three games for the sixth-place Czech Republic at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Vanecek came to North America in 2015-16, going 18-7-6 with a 2.03 GAA, .917 save percentage and four shutouts in 32 games with South Carolina of the ECHL, and was named to the league's All-Rookie Team.
He spent most of the next three seasons with Hershey of the American Hockey League. In 2016-17 he was third among AHL rookies with a 2.54 GAA in 39 games and tied for second among all AHL goalies with five shutouts. In 2018-19 he had a 2.62 GAA and .907 save percentage in 38 games and played in the AHL All-Star Game.
Vanecek made his NHL debut Jan. 15, 2021, making 30 saves in a 2-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres. His first shutout also came against the Sabres, on March 15, 2021. His 21 wins in 2020-21 led NHL rookies and were the second-most ever by a Capitals rookie, after Neuvirth had 27 in 2010-11.
Vanecek played 42 games in the 2021-22 season, five more then the season prior, and was 20-12-6 with a 2.67 GAA and .908 save percentage. On July 8, 2022, Vanecek was traded to the New Jersey Devils and signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract July 19. He made 35 saves in a 5-3 win at the New York Rangers on Nov. 28 to go 11-2-0 in his first 15 games with the Devils and become the second goalie (Sean Burke, 11-2-0) in Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts history to do so.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Claimed by Seattle from Washington in Expansion Draft, July 21, 2021.
- Traded to Washington by Seattle for a 2nd-round pick in 2023 NHL Draft, July 28, 2021.
- Traded to New Jersey by Washington with a 2nd-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft for a 2nd-round pick in 2022 and 3rd-round pick in 2022, July 8, 2022.
