Jakub Jeřábek Explained

Jakub Jeřábek
Birth Date:1991 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:200
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:ELH
Team:HC Oceláři Třinec
Former Teams:HC Plzeň
HC Vityaz
Montreal Canadiens
Washington Capitals
St. Louis Blues
Spartak Moscow
Ntl Team:CZE
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2008

Jakub Jeřábek (born 12 May 1991) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenseman for HC Oceláři Třinec in the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Originally undrafted by teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), Jeřábek has previously played for the Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, and St. Louis Blues.

Playing career

Jeřábek played as a youth with his hometown club, HC Plzeň. Undrafted, he remained in the Czech Republic and made his senior debut with Plzeň in the Czech Extraliga during the 2008–09 season.

Over the following three seasons, Jeřábek continued his development before cementing a full-time role on the blueline of Plzeň in the 2012–13 season.[1] In establishing himself as the club's top defenseman, Jeřábek was recognised in the 2015–16 season, as the league's best defenseman in compiling 33 points in 52 games with Plzeň.

To play at a higher level, Jeřábek left Plzeň after eight senior seasons in signing a one-year contract with Russian outfit, Vityaz of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on 5 May 2016.[2] In the ensuing 2016–17 season, Jeřábek instantly assumed the role as Vityaz's top pairing defenseman. He led the blueline with 5 goals and 29 assists for 34 points in 59 games, placing him 6th in overall scoring. He was also selected to represent Vityaz at the 2017 KHL All-Star Game.

In attracting National Hockey League (NHL) interest and at the conclusion of his contract with Vityaz, Jeřábek signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on 1 May 2017.[3] In the 2017–18 season, Jeřábek was initially assigned to American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Laval Rocket. On 22 November 2017, he received his first recall to the NHL. He appeared in 25 games with the Canadiens before on 21 February 2018, Jeřábek was traded to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.[4] Jeřábek played in 11 games during his first season with the Capitals, and scored his only goal with the Caps in a March game against the Canadiens.[5] Jeřábek also started the first two playoff games of the first round against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup run, but was subsequently scratched for fellow rookie Christian Djoos.

As a free agent from the Stanley Cup-winning Capitals, Jeřábek was signed to a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers on 20 August 2018.[6] Before starting the 2018–19 season, Jeřábek was traded to the St. Louis Blues for a conditional 6th-round draft pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He played in a single game with the Blues before he was placed on waivers and re-assigned to their AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, for the remainder of the season.

On 3 May 2019, as an impending free agent from the Blues, Jeřábek opted to leave the NHL and return on a one-year contract to Russian club, HC Vityaz of the KHL.[7] [8] Following two seasons with Vityaz Podolsk, Jeřábek left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year contract to continue in the KHL with HC Spartak Moscow on 29 July 2021.[9]

On 6 June 2022, as a free agent, Jeřábek opted to return to his native Czech Republic, returning to the ELH after six years in agreeing to a one-year contract with HC Oceláři Třinec.[10]

International play

Jeřábek captained the junior Czech Republic team at the 2011 World Junior Championships and was the third-highest-scoring defenseman of the tournament, after Ryan Ellis and Dmitri Orlov.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2006–07HC Lasselsberger PlzeňCZE U1844821299771016
2007–08HC Lasselsberger PlzeňCZE U1817317207685494
2007–08HC Lasselsberger PlzeňCZE U20293111426
2008–09HC Lasselsberger PlzeňCZE U2040820283250338
2008–09HC Lasselsberger PlzeňELH20002
2008–09HC Berounští MedvědiCzech.140116
2009–10HC Plzeň 1929CZE U201241216641238
2009–10HC Plzeň 1929ELH370222220002
2010–11HC Plzeň 1929CZE U2030220
2010–11HC Plzeň 1929ELH411672040112
2010–11HC Slovan Ústečtí LviCzech.120002
2011–12HC Plzeň 1929ELH3213422100226
2011–12Piráti ChomutovCzech.140002
2011–12SK KadaňCzech.1111458
2012–13HC Škoda PlzeňELH49268441713412
2013–14HC Škoda PlzeňELH471121324601112
2014–15HC Škoda PlzeňELH48725324040338
2015–16HC Škoda PlzeňELH5242933561105520
2016–17HC VityazKHL59529345641128
2017–18Laval RocketAHL171101116
2017–18Montreal CanadiensNHL251346
2017–18Washington CapitalsNHL11134020112
2018–19St. Louis BluesNHL10002
2018–19San Antonio RampageAHL52691528
2019–20HC VityazKHL531016263840112
2020–21HC VityazKHL466121824
2021–22Spartak MoscowKHL393471050008
ELH totals308168399230541151662
KHL totals1972461851281312318
NHL totals37268820112

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2009Czech RepublicWJC186th611222
2010Czech RepublicWJC7th61120
2011Czech RepublicWJC7th61784
2016Czech RepublicWC5th80552
2017Czech RepublicWC7th80224
2022Czech RepublicOG9th40004
Junior totals 18391226
Senior totals 2007710

Awards and honours

AwardYear
ELH
Best Defenceman2016
KHL
All-Star Game2017
NHL
Stanley Cup (Washington Capitals)2018[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2013-05-03 . Plzen announce first roster transactions . 2013-05-03 . . Czech.
  2. Web site: 2016-05-05 . Three more debutants sign with Vityaz . 2016-05-05 . . ru.
  3. Web site: Canadiens agree to terms on one-year deal with Jakub Jerabek . . 2017-05-01 . 2017-05-01.
  4. Web site: Capitals Acquire Jakub Jerabek from Montreal Canadiens. NHL.com. 21 February 2018. 21 February 2018.
  5. Web site: Capitals defeat Canadiens, pad lead for first in Metropolitan . NHL.com . 2018-03-25 . 2018-06-11.
  6. Web site: Oilers sign Jakub Jerabek . . 2018-08-20 . 2018-08-20.
  7. Web site: Набатов . Геннадий . Ержабек возвратится в "Витязь" . hcvityaz.ru . 7 May 2019 . ru-RU . 3 May 2019.
  8. Web site: Jakub Jerabek: KHL bound . CBSSports.com . 7 May 2019 . 4 May 2019.
  9. Web site: 29 July 2021 . Spartak newcomer - Jakub Jerabek . 29 July 2021 . . ru.
  10. Web site: . Defender Jakub Jerabek signs with HC Oceláři Třinec . 6 June 2022 . 6 June 2022 . Czech .
  11. News: Shpigel . Ben . 2018-06-07 . The Washington Capitals, after years of frustration, win the Stanley Cup . . 2018-06-07.