Lukas Dostal: 2024 IIHF Male Player of the Year Award Finalist
On Tuesday, the IIHF announced Lukas Dostal as one of the six finalists for the 2024 Male Player of the Year.
The IIHF announced their six 2024 Male Player of the Year finalists on Tuesday, June 11. Among them was Anaheim Ducks netminder, Lukas Dostal.
Lukas Dostal was spectacular as Czechia's starting goaltender at the 2024 World Championships, backstopping the host nation to their first gold medal since 2010.
Dostal posted a 6-2 record (zero regulation losses) at the tournament, a .939 SV%, and three shutouts, including a 2-0 victory in the Championship game against Switzerland.
“Unbelievable!” the 23-year-old goaltender told The Hockey News' Derek O'Brien. “I’m just so happy now. I have no words.”
Dostal was voted Top Goalie by the IIHF Tournament Directorate and named to the Media All-Star Team.
Dostal will have some stiff competition if he is to win Player of the Year honors. The award is "voted on by members of the media and appropriate members of the IIHF family. Media will account for 70% of the vote while IIHF Family voting will constitute the other 30%."
The other finalists include World Championship MVP and Best Forward Kevin Fiala from Switzerland, Swiss captain and Best Defenseman Roman Josi, Czechia captain Roman Cervenka, Swedish defenseman Erik Karlsson, and Canada captain John Tavares.
The winner will be announced on Monday, June 17 at 9 AM PST.
2023-24 was Dostal's rookie season in the NHL and saw him start 38 games and appear in 44, where he saved -4.42 goals above expected, posted a .902 SV%, and earned his first career shutout.
During his postseason exit interview, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek expressed his desire to have an even tandem in Anaheim between Dostal and veteran goaltender John Gibson in 2024-25.
"It's a situation where who's playing the best could be taking the net," Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek stated. "We have two goaltenders who can play equally well. I think it's a really good thing in a sense to where there's competition within the lineup and that's going to bring out the best in everyone and our team."