Tobias Stephan

Playing career

Tobias Stephan, a native of Zurich, Switzerland, got his start in youth hockey by taking part in the 1997 and 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a Zurich-based squad. His standout performance as a goaltender earned him the title of best netminder at the 2001 U18 World Junior Championships. He began his professional career with EHC Chur before moving to the Kloten Flyers in his home country. In 2002, the Swiss Hockey League recognized him as its top rookie. That same year, the Dallas Stars selected him 34th overall in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft, making him the third-highest Swiss player ever drafted and the fourth Swiss goalie picked by an NHL team, following Pauli Jaks, David Aebischer, and Martin Gerber.

Stephan finally got his first NHL start on October 13, 2007, against the Chicago Blackhawks, stepping in because Dallas goalies Marty Turco and Mike Smith were both hurt. He stopped all 39 shots through regulation, on track for a shutout in his debut, until Chicago tied the game with just two seconds left. The Blackhawks then scored on their first overtime shot to win 2-1, and Stephan was sent back to the AHL afterward. Before the 2008-09 season, he learned he would serve as Turco’s backup. His first NHL win came on October 29 against the Minnesota Wild, a 4-2 Stars victory. On July 31, 2009, he left Dallas to sign with Genève-Servette in Switzerland. Following the 2018-19 season, he inked a three-year, CHF 3 million deal with Lausanne HC. On February 6, 2023, during his fourth year with Lausanne, Stephan announced his retirement from professional hockey at the end of the 2022-23 season, capping a 22-season career.