Jiří Patera (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

Patera began his career in the youth system of HC Slavia Praha before moving to ČEZ Motor České Budějovice in 2016–17. Shortly after, he was selected in the sixth round of the 2017 NHL entry draft by the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. He entered junior hockey with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL in 2017–18, then joined the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL for two seasons, posting a career .913 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average over 89 games and being named Eastern Conference Goaltender of the Year for 2019–20.

Patera signed his entry-level contract with Vegas on June 30, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the AHL season, he was loaned to his former Czech club České Budějovice for 15 games in 2020–21, then joined Vegas' AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. He made his NHL debut on March 12, 2023, stopping 30 of 33 shots in a 5–3 win over the St. Louis Blues. Though he played only two regular-season games, he spent most of the 2023 playoffs on Vegas' active roster as a third or fourth-string goaltender and was part of the Golden Knights' Stanley Cup victory.

As a restricted free agent, Patera signed a one-year extension with Vegas on July 2, 2023. After starting the season with Henderson, he was recalled on December 2 due to an injury to Adin Hill and made his 2023–24 season debut on December 10, stopping 35 of 39 shots in a 5–4 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks. He left Vegas as a free agent after the season and signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2024. He was claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins on October 2, 2024, but was placed on waivers four days later and re-claimed by Vancouver on October 7. After missing most of the 2024–25 season due to injury, he made his Canucks debut on November 17, 2025, stopping 33 of 40 shots in an 8–5 loss to the Florida Panthers. On July 1, 2026, he returned to the Boston Bruins organization on a one-year, two-way contract.

Reader's Guide

Jiří Patera's significance lies in his journey from a sixth-round draft pick of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights to an NHL goaltender who contributed to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship. Though he played only two regular-season games in 2022–23, his presence on the active roster during the playoffs—serving as the third or fourth-string option behind Laurent Brossoit, Adin Hill, and Jonathan Quick—made him part of the championship team. His NHL debut on March 12, 2023, was a 30-save victory over the St. Louis Blues, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure. Patera's career has been marked by movement between organizations: after leaving Vegas as a free agent, he signed with Vancouver, was claimed and then re-claimed by Boston and Vancouver in a span of days, and later returned to Boston. His international experience includes representing the Czech Republic at the under-18 and under-20 levels, including the 2017 IIHF World U18 Championships and the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championships. Patera's path illustrates the volatility of a goaltender's career in the NHL, with waivers, injuries, and short-term contracts shaping his trajectory.

Did You Know?

• He was named Eastern Conference Goaltender of the Year for the 2019–20 WHL season while playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings.
• Patera was part of the Vegas Golden Knights' Stanley Cup victory in 2023, serving as a third or fourth-string goaltender during the playoffs.