Kraken Goaltender Ales Stezka To Remain The Back-Up Goaltender
Firebirds goalie Ales Stezka (30) reacts after the 4-3 shootout win against the Bakersfield Condors at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. Imagn.comAles Stezka was called up to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday and will remain as the backup goaltender, with Philipp Grubauer continuing in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Stezka has spent most of the season as the Firebirds' starting goaltender, sharing some starts with young netminder Niklas Kokko. In Stezka's 25 games, he's posted a .902 SV% and a 2.99 GAA.
Both Grubauer and Joey Daccord have dealt with injuries throughout the 2024-25 season, which has allowed Stezka to spend quite some time up in the NHL. Despite the recalls, the 28-year-old goaltender has yet to see game action this season or in his career.
Grubauer has played in four AHL games since he was placed on waivers, posting a 3-1-0 record with a .907 SV% and a 2.49 GAA. His AHL stats aren't at the level the Kraken would have hoped for, but it is an improvement on his NHL numbers.
Although Grubauer has yet to post a season with a save percentage above .900 during his Kraken tenure, he was making minimal improvements, but the 2024-25 campaign has seen him take a major drop off.
His .866 SV% and 3.83 GAA are the worst of his career, and it is the worst among all goaltenders to play in more than 15 games this season. The Kraken have yet to make a decision on Grubauer's future. There's a slim chance that a team would want to acquire the 31-year-old goaltender at his current $5.9M cap hit, and with the team far from a playoff spot, there isn't much rush to recall him. He could play out the remainder of the season in the AHL, and the Kraken management could decide on what to do in the offseason.
Goalie Philipp Grubauer allows a goal during the Coachella Valley Firebirds win over the Tuscon Roadrunners at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., Feb. 19, 2025. Imagn.comThe Kraken are about to embark on a three-game road trip and play a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. If the team decides to keep Grubauer in the AHL, Stezka could make his NHL debut on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.