Devils’ sign goaltender Jakub Malek two-year, entry-level contract

New Jersey Devils President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald announced that the club has agreed to terms with goaltender Jakub Malek on a two-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2024-25 season.

Malek was selected No. 100 overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by New Jersey.

Malek spent the 2023-24 season with Ilves of the Finnish Men’s League (LIIGA) where he recorded a 16-4-5 record and put together a 2.32 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and earned two shutouts. He was one of eight Liiga netminders who recorded 16, or more, wins in 2023-24. During his rookie year, Malek posted a 9-7-4 record in 22 appearances. He recorded a .903 save percentage, 2.15 goals against average and two shutouts.

Malek played for VHK Vsetín in the Czechia2 league for parts of four seasons between 2018 and 2021 before moving to Finland. He earned a career-high 22 wins during the 2021-22 season playing with Vsetín recording a 22-9-0 record. Malek earned multiple Czechia2 honors in 2021-22, including Best Junior and Best Goaltender, and was a member of the All-Star Team.

Internationally, Malek was named to the Czechia World Juniors squad in 2021 when the event was subsequently cancelled.