Miroslav Svoboda (ice hockey)

Miroslav Svoboda (born 7 March 1995) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing under contract with HC Škoda Plzeň of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Svoboda was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 7th round (208th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Miroslav Svoboda
Svoboda with HC Oceláři Třinec in 2015
Born (1995-03-07) 7 March 1995 (age 29)
Vsetín, Czech Republic
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
ELH team
Former teams
HC Škoda Plzeň
HC Oceláři Třinec
AZ Havířov
Draci Šumperk
HC Dukla Jihlava
Atlanta Gladiators
LeKi
Dornbirner EC
HC Vítkovice Ridera
NHL draft 208th overall, 2015
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2014–present

Playing career

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Svoboda with the Vaasan Sport in 2024

Svoboda made his Czech Extraliga debut playing with HC Oceláři Třinec debut during the 2014–15 season.[1] During the 2016–17 season, Svoboda played the entirety of the year on loan with second-tier club, HC Dukla Jihlava, backstopping the club to promotion back to the Extraliga. On 25 April 2017, Svoboda opted to leave Trinec for a starting role in agreeing to a two-year contract with HC Plzeň.[2]

On 26 April 2018, he signed with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL).[3] After attending the Predators training camp, Svoboda was reassigned to primary affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. With the logjam in the Admirals, Svoboda was reassigned to begin the 2018–19 with secondary ECHL affiliate, the Atlanta Gladiators. On 20 October 2018, he was recalled to the Nashville Predators to replace the injured Pekka Rinne.[4] He was returned to the Admirals on 22 October 2018.[5] Svoboda never made an appearance in the AHL, featuring in 14 games in the ECHL before opting to be placed on unconditional waivers by the Predators in order to mutually terminate his contract on 9 January 2019.[6]

As a free agent, on 13 January 2019, Svoboda opted to play out the remainder of the season in Finland, joining top flight Liiga club, Tappara.[7] Before making an appearance with Tappara, Svoboda was loaned to Mestis club, LeKi, on 18 January 2019.[8] After 6 games he left his contract with Tappara, playing out the remainder of the season with Austrian club, Dornbirner EC of the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).

On 5 March 2019, Svoboda decided to return for the following 2019–20 season to the Czech Extraliga, agreeing on a one-year contract with HC Vítkovice Ridera.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Miroslav Svoboda player profile". HC Oceláři Třinec. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Svoboda goes from Trinec to Plzen" (in Czech). hokej.cz. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Predators Sign Goaltender Miroslav Svoboda". NHL.com. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. ^ RotoWire (20 October 2018). "Predators' Miroslav Svoboda: Set for promotion". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  5. ^ RotoWire (22 October 2018). "Predators' Miroslav Svoboda: Sent down to minors". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  6. ^ Elliotte Friedman (9 January 2019). "Svoboda, Wilson on waivers". Twitter. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Goalkeeper Miroslav Svoboda to Tappara". Tappara (in Finnish). 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Today in Tappara". Tappara (in Finnish). 18 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Miroslav Svoboda the new Goaltender for Vitkovice" (in Czech). HC Vítkovice Ridera. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
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