Miroslav Svoboda (ice hockey) explained

Miroslav Svoboda
Birth Date:1995 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Vsetín, Czech Republic
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:176
Position:Goaltender
Catches:Left
League:ELH
Team:HC Škoda Plzeň
Former Teams:HC Oceláři Třinec
AZ Havířov
Draci Šumperk
HC Dukla Jihlava
Atlanta Gladiators
LeKi
Dornbirner EC
HC Vítkovice Ridera
Draft:208th overall
Draft Year:2015
Draft Team:Edmonton Oilers
Career Start:2014

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.

Playing career

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]

Notes and References

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