According to insider Pierre LeBrun of TSN, the Utah Hockey Club re-signed goaltender Karel Vejmelka to a five-year contract extension. The deal is worth $23.75 million total, with a $4.75 million average annual value. Not unsurprisingly, it also makes Vejmelka the highest paid goalie on Utah. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, but clearly Utah wants him to be one of their goalies in the future.
Utah has also re-signed goalie Karel Vemejlka to a five-year contract x $4.75M AAV per season
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 6, 2025
Karel Vejmelka Re-Signs Contract with the Club from Utah
Vejmelka was originally a fifth-round draft pick (145th overall) by the Nashville Predators in 2015. A good comparable to this deal, is the contract the Vancouver Canucks gave goaltender Kevin Lankinen. The 28-year-old has been outstanding and is a big reason why Utah sits just four points out of the wild card.
Fortifying the Crease
Although Vejmelka has an even record of 16-16-4 over 38 games this season, it’s not indicative of how he has played. Vejmelka has posted a respectable .910 SV% and a 2.45 GAA. However, he has been a busy goalie all season long. Vejmelka ranks tenth in the league among all goaltenders in goals saved above expected with a number of 14.3. The 6’4” right-handed goalie has been Utah’s anchor throughout the season. Especially when Connor Ingram missed time with an injury. Vejmelka was forced to play back-back games on a few occasions, which is very rare for any team. Therefore, he has shown he is able to elevate his play when required. Even if Utah doesn’t often find themselves in meaningful games.
Vejmelka has won four of his last five starts, helping Utah earn crucial points in the team’s playoff push. The four wins were done consecutively, while giving up two or less goals in each. Other than Vejmelka, Utah took care of other business by re-signing two key defencemen, Olli Maatta and Ian Cole. It is likely that he will get the majority of starts going forward to end the season, but Vejmelka’s contract extension shows his importance to Utah. The goaltender has certainly earned the new deal.
Main Photo Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
