Stanley Cup champions re-sign depth netminder

The Vegas Golden Knights re-signed netminder Jiri Patera to a one-year, two-way contract. Per PuckPedia, the contract carries a $775k AAV, a $100k AHL salary and a $145k total guarantee.

Patera, 24, is a member of the Golden Knights’ original draft class from 2017, when he was selected in the sixth round. The 6-foot-2 Czech netminder developed in the USHL before spending two seasons in the WHL with current Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon’s club, the Brandon Wheat Kings.

A first-team All-Star in the WHL, Patera turned pro in 2020-21, splitting time with HC Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Extraliga and the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL.

Patera had a difficult start to life in Henderson, but in 2021-22 he regrouped his game in the ECHL and ended the season with a .910 save percentage and 2.76 goals-against-average in the AHL.

This past season, Patera acclimated to a larger workload, playing 31 games for Henderson. His numbers held steady despite his more significant role and he even earned two starts for Vegas in the NHL, winning both with a .929 save percentage.

With this contract, Patera secures his place for another season with Vegas’ AHL affiliate and he’ll hope to earn more NHL call-ups as he makes a push to become a regular face at the game’s highest level.