Philipp Grubauer

Philipp Grubauer (born 25 November 1991) is a German professional ice hockey goaltender for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Washington Capitals selected him in the fourth round, 112th overall, of the 2010 NHL entry draft.

Grubauer began his career in Germany with his hometown junior team, the Starbulls Rosenheim, at age 13 in 2004. He made his senior debut for the Starbulls on 17 February 2008 at age 16, recording a 2–0 shutout. Later that season, when the team’s starting goaltender struggled in the relegation round, Grubauer stepped in, winning a key game 2–1 and playing six more contests to help save Rosenheim from relegation. After the 2007–08 season, he moved to North America after being selected 25th overall in the 2008 CHL Import Draft by the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

With the Bulls, Grubauer backed up Mike Murphy in 2008–09, playing 17 games. He became the starter in 2009–10, appearing in 31 games before being traded on 4 January 2010 to the Windsor Spitfires in a seven-player deal. At age 18, he helped the Spitfires win the Memorial Cup in May 2010, leading all tournament goaltenders with a .930 save percentage and a 2.14 goals against average (GAA). Shortly after the NHL Draft, Grubauer and Windsor’s first-round 2010 CHL Import Draft pick were traded to the Kingston Frontenacs for Nick Czinder, A. J. Jarosz, and three draft picks. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals on 4 October 2010. With the Frontenacs, he posted a 22–13–3 record, a .903 save percentage, and a 3.62 GAA over 38 games before falling ill with mononucleosis in February.

Grubauer returned to the ice at the Capitals’ 2011–12 development camp, having lost 20 pounds during his illness. After training camp, he was assigned to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. He was briefly recalled to the AHL’s Hershey Bears on 12 October 2011 but did not play and returned to the Stingrays on 23 October. The ECHL named him Goaltender of the Week for 31 October–6 November, during which he went 3–0–0 with one shutout, a 1.00 GAA, and a .960 save percentage. He was also named ECHL Goaltender of the Month for November, going 6–1–1 with one shutout, a 1.73 GAA, and a .935 save percentage. Grubauer earned ECHL Rookie of the Month honors in January and was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team for 2011–12.