Sharks’ Vitek Vanecek assigned to AHL on conditioning stint

The San Jose Sharks announced Wednesday that goaltender Vitek Vanecek has been loaned to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda as part of a conditioning stint.

Through 14 appearances with the Sharks this season, Vanecek has posted a 3-8-1 record alongside an .885 save percentage and 3.84 goals-against average. Sidelined since mid-December due to a fractured cheekbone, Vanecek’s last showing came December 14 against the Utah Hockey Club that saw him turn aside 36 shots in a losing effort.

Vanecek joined the Sharks last March following a deal with the New Jersey Devils that saw San Jose part with fellow goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen. Due to an undisclosed injury, Vanecek did not make any appearances with the Sharks last season and ultimately wrapped up the year with 32 games played – all coming with New Jersey – in which he went 17-9-3 with an .890 save percentage and 3.18 goals-against average.

Originally chosen 39th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2014 NHL Draft, Vanecek has totaled 177 appearances between the Capitals, Devils, and Sharks in which he has posted a 94-50-18 record with a .903 save percentage, 2.79 goals-against average, and nine shutouts.

Per PuckPedia, Vanecek is in the final year of a three-year pact that carries a $3.4-million annual average value and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason.

With Vanecek sidelined for much of the 2024-25 season, and Mackenzie Blackwood dealt to the Colorado Avalanche in early December, the Sharks have turned to veteran Alexander Georgiev as well as 22-year-old Russian-born netminder Yaroslav Askarov to handle the club’s goaltending duties.

On the season, the Sharks sit at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 15-32-6 record and 36 points. Coming away with a victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, the Sharks will look to make it two consecutive wins when the club returns to the ice Thursday to take on the Pacific Division rival Seattle Kraken.