SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 10: Karel Vejmelka #70 of the Utah Hockey Club looks on before a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Delta Center on March 10, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – At the completion of their inaugural NHL campaign, the Utah Hockey Club finished with a 38-31-13 overall record (89 points, 5th in the Central Division). The following is an analysis and letter grade for Karel Vejmelka after a full season in Utah.
Stats: 58 GP, 26-22-8 record, 2.58 GAA, .904 SV%
Consistency was the overlying theme of Karel Vejmelka’s first season in Utah as he stepped into the starting role and registered his best year in the National Hockey League to give his team a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.
Across the board, Vejmelka experienced career-highs in terms of games played (58), wins (26), goals against average (2.58) and overall save percentage (.904).
He also posted a career-best 49 saves against the Carolina Hurricanes in mid-November which set the tone for the rest of the year.
Karel Vejmelka made an ABSURD 49 saves in tonight’s @utahhockeyclub 4-1 victory 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xSr5Gb1plO
— NHL (@NHL) November 14, 2024
“His performance this year did not surprise us in terms of; he can do that,” Head coach Andre Tourigny said during exit interviews.
“What he did different was sustain…what we saw this year was consistency…we knew he was capable of doing it, now he’s capable of doing it on a more consistent basis.”
Full story: Utah Hockey Club Exit Interviews Blog: Bill Armstrong, Chris Armstrong, Andre Tourigny
Not only did Vejmelka sustain his play for nearly 60 games throughout the inaugural season, but with 23 straight appearances down the stretch, Veggie was fresh, active, strong and dependable between the pipes.
Every night, he tracked the puck well, flashed his glove, reacted quickly and put his team in a position to win hockey games with steady performances.
Criminal from Vejmelka. What a save.pic.twitter.com/eV7d7KVwOj
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 7, 2025
What a paddle save by Karel Vejmelka! 😯 pic.twitter.com/4pCsfq5H1s
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 11, 2025
ABSOLUTE ROBBERY.
He tracks the puck so well and reacts lightning fast. What a save from Vejmelka.pic.twitter.com/0Iw1sdoTLS
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) March 21, 2025
For his efforts, Vejmelka was rewarded with a five-year extension and voted Team MVP by his teammates.
Karel Vejmelka wins the Team MVP award.#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/0E9kyLCbNz
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) April 11, 2025
Following his new extension, Vejmelka instantly became Utah’s top goaltender of the immediate future which comes with a fresh set of expectations and responsibilities.
As mentioned by multiple players and staff throughout exit interviews, next season is playoffs or bust for the Utah Hockey Club.
So, while this past season was wildly impressive for Vejmelka, next season needs to be even better.
That means more shutouts, fewer goals against and roughly a .008 to .010 increase in overall save percentage would put his squad in a position to make up the difference and clinch a spot in the postseason.
Is it doable?
Absolutely.
Year over year, Vejmelka decreased his goals against by .71 and increased his overall save percentage by .007 for Utah which means he’s more than capable of doing it again.
Following the conclusion of the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural season, the next notable event will be the NHL Draft on June 27 and 28.
