Panthers acquire Vitek Vanecek from Sharks for Patrick Giles
The Florida Panthers continue to build toward defending their 2024 Stanley Cup championship.
On Wednesday, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press reported the club had acquired goaltender Vitek Vanacek from the San Jose Sharks, sending right winger Patrik Giles the other way.
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The #SJSharks have acquired forward Patrick Giles from the Panthers in exchange for Vitek Vanecek. @Shift4 | #TheFutureIsTeal
Vanacek, 29, was held out of the Sharks’ game against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night amid rumors of a potential trade. He served as backup as the Sharks won 6-2.
Vanacek is in the final year of his contract with a cap hit of $3.4 million. Through 18 games in 2024-25, he has a career-worst .882 save percentage and just three wins, often facing significant goal-scoring opportunities on a San Jose team that has conceded 234 goals – second worst in the NHL only to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 237.
In March 2024, the Sharks acquired Vanecek and a seventh-round selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for fellow goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen. Before his time with the Sharks and Devils, Vanacek spent parts of two seasons with the Washington Capitals.
The Sharks cannot retain any salary, having already used their three salary retention slots.
By adding the Czech Netminder, the Panthers solve their backup goalie situation. They had previously traded 23-year-old American Spencer Knight to the Chicago Blackhawks for top defenseman Seth Jones.
Since trading Knight, the Panthers had recalled Chris Driedger from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, but were in the market for a regular NHL backup, given Driedeger’s .878 save percentage in 20 AHL games.
Sergei Bobrovsky will continue as the starter for head coach Paul Maurice, boasting a .904 save percentage through 41 games this season.
For San Jose, the 25-year-old Giles comes in with nine games of NHL experience from early 2024-25. The Chevy-Chase, Maryland native has five goals and seven points in 37 games with AHL Charlotte this season.
The Panthers sit second in the Atlantic Division on 79 points, tied with the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs, having played one more game, heading into a Thursday evening matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
San Jose is well out of Stanley Cup Playoff contention. After 63 games, the club sits eighth in the Pacific Division and last in the NHL, with 43 points.