Ilves’ former star goalkeeper Jakub Malek: NHL contract!
The New Jersey Devils have signed Czech goaltender Jakub Malek, who has excelled in the Liiga for several seasons, to a new NHL contract.
The 24-year-old goaltender, who moved from Tampereen Ilves to North America last summer, signed a two-year, two-way extension with the Devils on Monday. In the NHL, Malek’s annual earnings will rise to $850,000, while in the AHL, his salary will be $175,000 per season.
The 194-centimeter Czech goaltender played 31 games in his first North American season with the AHL team Utica Comets. He recorded a goals-against average of 2.75 and a save percentage of 89.5.
Malek developed as a professional hockey player in the Liiga, where he played a total of 82 regular-season games for Ilves over three seasons with impressive stats of 2.18 and 91.0%.
The Devils drafted Malek in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. In Finland, the goaltender played between the years 2022 and 2025.
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