Philipp Grubauer

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Philipp Grubauer
Grubauer with the Seattle Kraken in December 2023
Born (1991-11-25) 25 November 1991 (age 32)
Rosenheim, Germany
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams
Seattle Kraken
Washington Capitals
Colorado Avalanche
National team  Germany
NHL Draft 112th overall, 2010
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2011–present

Philipp Grubauer (born 25 November 1991) is a German professional ice hockey goaltender for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round, 112th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Grubauer has played with the German national team in several international tournaments, including the 2008 U18 World Championships and the 2009 World Junior Championships. Grubauer won the Memorial Cup with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Windsor Spitfires in 2010. Grubauer won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Capitals in 2018.

In April 2015, while playing for the Capitals, Grubauer became the first German-born goaltender to start and win a Stanley Cup playoffs game. He is also the first Seattle Kraken goaltender to record a shutout, doing so in February 2022.

Playing career

Early career

Grubauer began his career in Germany, playing for the junior (U18) team of his hometown Starbulls Rosenheim beginning in 2006 at the age of 15. The following season, 2007–08, Grubauer played 23 games for the Starbulls U18 team, as well as five games with the senior club. Following the 2007–08 season, Grubauer moved to North America to play with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after being selected 25th overall in the 2008 CHL Import Draft.[1]

Grubauer with the Windsor Spitfires.

Grubauer served as the Bulls' back-up goaltender in the 2008–09, but became the team's starter in 2009–10. That season, he played in 31 games for the Bulls before being traded in January 2010 to the Windsor Spitfires in a seven-player deal.[2] The Spitfires won the Memorial Cup for the second consecutive year that May, and Grubauer led all goaltenders in the tournament with a .930 save percentage and a 2.14 goals against average (GAA).

On 26 June 2010, Grubauer was selected in the fourth round, 112th overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.[3]

Just a few days after the NHL Draft, Grubauer, along with Windsor's first-round 2010 CHL Import Draft pick, was traded to the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for Nick Czinder, A. J. Jarosz, Kingston's first-round pick in the 2010 CHL Import Draft and Kingston's second- and seventh-round (conditional) picks in the 2011 OHL Priority Draft.[4]

Grubauer signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals on 4 October 2010, as his season with the Frontenacs began.[5]

Grubauer played 38 games for the Frontenacs before falling ill with mononucleosis in February. He returned to Germany to recuperate and missed the rest of the season, his final age-eligible season in the OHL.[6]

Professional

Grubauer with the Hershey Bears in January 2015 (top); Grubauer playing for the Washington Capitals in April 2016 (bottom).

Washington Capitals

Grubauer returned to the ice for the first time since his bout with mononucleosis at the Capitals' 2011–12 season development camp. He reported that he had lost 20 pounds while ill.[7] Following training camp in September, Grubauer was eventually assigned to the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, a minor league affiliate of the Capitals.[8] Grubauer was recalled to the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Hershey Bears on 12 October 2011,[9] but did not play any games and returned to the Stingrays on 23 October.[10] On 8 November 2011, the ECHL announced that Grubauer had been named the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week of 31 October to 6 November. Grubauer was 3–0–0 with one shutout, a 1.00 GAA and a .960 save percentage during that span.[11] Grubauer was named the ECHL's Goaltender of the Month for November. In eight games with the Stingrays in November, he went 6–1–1 with one shutout, a 1.73 GAA and a .935 save percentage.[12] Grubauer was named ECHL Rookie of the Month in January and at the conclusion of the season, was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team for 2011–12.[13]

In the 2012–13 season, the Washington Capitals' ECHL affiliation became the Reading Royals, and Grubauer split the season between Reading and Hershey, moving up to Hershey when the NHL ended their labour lockout and when goaltender Braden Holtby was promoted to Washington full-time for the 2012–13 season. Grubauer made his NHL debut in relief of Holtby in a 4–1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on 27 February 2013, stopping all 14 shots faced in just over 25 minutes of play.[14] Grubauer then made his first NHL start on 9 March 2013, in a 5–2 loss to the New York Islanders. He faced 45 shots in the game, stopping 40.[15]

On 6 July 2017, the Capitals re-signed Grubauer to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.[16] During the 2017–18 season, Grubauer recorded a career-high 15 wins in 28 starts. Grubauer was the Capitals' starter to begin the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs after a strong (7–3–0) record in 10 of the final 16 games in the Capitals' regular season.[17] Grubauer made 23 saves in a 4–3 overtime loss in Game One against the Columbus Blue Jackets.[18] However, Holtby permanently took over the goaltending duties from Grubauer after replacing him during Game 2 of the series.[19] The Capitals ended up winning the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.[20]

Colorado Avalanche

On 22 June 2018, Grubauer and Brooks Orpik were traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick during the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[21] The following day, the Avalanche re-signed Grubauer to a three-year, $10 million contract extension.[22]

He recorded an 18–9–5 record during the regular season, but a second-half surge led Grubauer to be named Colorado's starting goaltender for the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. He helped lead the Avalanche to a first-round upset over the first-place Calgary Flames, but lost in Round 2 to the San Jose Sharks in seven games. Grubauer recorded a 7–5 record with a 2.30 goals against average during the playoffs.[23]

During the 2019 off-season, goaltender Semyon Varlamov signed a free-agent deal with the New York Islanders, cementing Grubauer's place as Colorado's starter. However injuries would again hamper his 2019–20 season and ended up splitting time with Pavel Francouz. He made 36 starts in the regular season and went 5–1 with a 1.87 goals against average in seven playoffs starts before suffering an injury in the Second Round.[23]

Grubauer bounced back from his playoffs injury and had the best season of his career during the shortened 2020–21 NHL season. With accomplished backup Pavel Francouz injured the entire season, Grubauer had a heavy workload and started 39 of 56 contests. He finished the regular season with a record of 30–9–1, a goals against average of 1.95, a save percentage of .922, and 7 shutouts despite missing two weeks in April with a COVID-19 diagnosis. His win total was second only to Andrei Vasilevskiy (31) and his goals against average was second only to Alex Nedeljkovic (1.90), who played in 17 fewer games than Grubauer. Grubauer's save percentage was good for ninth on the season and he tied for the league lead in shutouts with Semyon Varlamov.[24] On 10 May 2021, with his team needing a regulation win in order to prevent the Vegas Golden Knights from winning both the division and the Presidents' Trophy, Grubauer stopped 36 of 37 shots in a 2–1 victory.[25] The Avalanche would go on to win their division and the Presidents Trophy for the third time in franchise history three days later after defeating the Los Angeles Kings 5–1 at Ball Arena in the 56th and final game of the regular season. On 1 June 2021, Grubauer was named a Vezina finalist for the first time in his career along with Vasilevskiy and Marc-André Fleury.[26]

Grubauer continued his stellar play in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs as the Avalanche swept the St. Louis Blues in the West Division First Round and took the first two games of the West Division Second Round series from the Golden Knights. After defeating the Knights 3–2 in overtime in the second game and making a postseason career-high 39 saves, Grubauer became only the 10th goaltender in NHL history to record 10 or more consecutive victories in the postseason, joining elite company. He also broke famed Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy's longstanding franchise record for a postseason win streak by attaining his sixth straight win. Roy had previously held the record with five straight wins which he set three separate times.[27]

Seattle Kraken

On 28 July 2021, as a free agent and unable to come to terms with the Avalanche, Grubauer opted to sign a six-year, $35.4 million contract to join the expansion club Seattle Kraken.[28] He became the first Seattle Kraken goaltender to record a shutout on 2 February 2022, defeating the New York Islanders 3–0.[29]

International play

Grubauer has appeared in several international competitions, representing Germany. He participated in the 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where Germany placed ninth in the tournament; Grubauer was named to the tournament's All-Star team after posting a .909 save percentage and 3.49 GAA.[30]

Three months following the 2008 U-17 Hockey Challenge, Grubauer, sharing goaltending duties with Felix Brückmann, played in the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships, held in Kazan, Russia. Germany placed fifth in the tournament, and Grubauer was selected as Germany's Player of the Game in Germany's 9–2 loss to Canada on the first day of round robin play.[31]

At the age of 17, Grubauer participated in the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario. However, Germany won just one game in the tournament, and following a ninth-place finish, were relegated to Division I for the 2010 World Junior Championships.[32]

Grubauer gained attention while competing for Germany in Division I of the 2010 World Junior Championships in Megève and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France. Germany placed first in their group, winning all five of their games in order to put them back in the Top Division for the 2011 World Junior Championships. Germany's success was largely due to the play of Grubauer, who posted a 0.64 GAA and a .974 save percentage in five games.[32]

Grubauer then participated in the 2011 World Junior Championships in Buffalo and Lewiston, New York, but Germany performed similarly to the 2009 World Junior Championships and finished tenth, sending them back to Division I for 2012. Grubauer recorded losses for all four games he started in the tournament.[32]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2007–08 Starbulls Rosenheim 3.GBun 5 2.73
2008–09 Belleville Bulls OHL 17 7 8 0 947 62 0 3.93 .888 1 0 0 56 4 0 4.26 .902
2009–10 Belleville Bulls OHL 31 10 14 5 1717 90 0 3.14 .913
2009–10 Windsor Spitfires OHL 19 13 1 2 1011 40 2 2.37 .906 18 16 2 1094 49 2 2.69 .909
2010–11 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 38 22 13 3 2239 135 2 3.62 .903
2011–12 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 43 23 13 5 2536 94 1 2.22 .918
2012–13 Reading Royals ECHL 26 19 5 1 1542 59 0 2.30 .912
2012–13 Hershey Bears AHL 28 15 9 2 1624 61 2 2.25 .919 5 2 3 301 19 0 3.79 .901
2012–13 Washington Capitals NHL 2 0 1 0 84 5 0 3.57 .915
2013–14 Hershey Bears AHL 28 13 13 2 1685 73 3 2.60 .916
2013–14 Washington Capitals NHL 17 6 5 5 883 35 0 2.38 .925
2014–15 Hershey Bears AHL 49 27 17 5 2918 112 6 2.30 .921 7 2 4 394 22 0 3.35 .901
2014–15 Washington Capitals NHL 1 1 0 0 65 2 0 1.85 .920 1 1 0 60 3 0 3.00 .857
2015–16 Washington Capitals NHL 22 8 9 1 1111 43 0 2.32 .918
2016–17 Washington Capitals NHL 24 13 6 2 1265 43 3 2.04 .926 1 0 0 19 2 0 6.32 .778
2017–18 Washington Capitals NHL 35 15 10 3 1865 73 3 2.35 .923 2 0 1 105 8 0 4.57 .837
2018–19 Colorado Avalanche NHL 37 18 9 5 2021 89 3 2.64 .917 12 7 5 732 28 1 2.30 .925
2019–20 Colorado Avalanche NHL 36 18 12 4 2058 90 2 2.63 .916 7 5 1 385 12 1 1.87 .922
2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL 40 30 9 1 2367 77 7 1.95 .922 10 6 4 598 26 0 2.61 .914
2021–22 Seattle Kraken NHL 55 18 31 5 3112 164 2 3.16 .889
2022–23 Seattle Kraken NHL 39 17 14 4 2066 98 0 2.85 .895 14 7 7 823 41 0 2.99 .903
NHL totals 308 144 106 30 16,895 719 20 2.55 .912 47 26 18 2,722 120 2 2.65 .910

International

Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2008 Germany U17 5 3.49 .909
2008 Germany U18 4 4.16 .877
2009 Germany WJC 3 109 12 0 6.61 .838
2010 Germany WJC-D1 5 0.64 .974
2011 Germany WJC 4 0 4 0 176 13 0 4.44 .888
2014 Germany WC 2 0 1 0 118 4 0 2.03 .921
2019 Germany WC 3 1 1 0 147 7 0 2.86 .920
2022 Germany WC 5 2 2 0 296 12 1 2.43 .907
Junior totals 21 3.87 .897
Senior totals 10 3 4 0 561 23 1 2.46 .914

Awards and honours

Award Year
ECHL
All-Rookie Team 2011–12
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2018 [33]
International
World U-17 Hockey Challenge All-Star Team 2008

References

  1. ^ "2008 CHL Import Draft: Round 1". Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Spitfires and Bulls complete trade". Open Ice Hockey. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2012.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Vogel, Mike (26 June 2010). "What They're Saying About Philipp Grubauer". Washington Capitals. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  4. ^ "Spits trade Grubauer". Windsor Star. 29 June 2010. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  5. ^ Applebaum, Lindsay (4 October 2010). "Caps sign Philipp Grubauer to entry-level deal". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Grubauer sidelined". Kingston Frontenacs. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  7. ^ Woods, Shemar (14 July 2011). "Prospect Philipp Grubauer could be Washington Capitals' next great hope in goal". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Stingrays Receive Six from Hershey; Acquire Rights to Higgins". South Carolina Stingrays. 3 October 2011. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
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  12. ^ "Grubauer Named ECHL Goaltender of the Month". South Carolina Stingrays. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  13. ^ "ECHL All-Rookie Team Announced". ECHL. 28 March 2012. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
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  15. ^ "Islanders 5, Capitals 2". Washington Capitals. 9 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013.
  16. ^ Khurshudyan, Isabelle. "Capitals re-sign goaltender Philipp Grubauer to one-year, $1.5 million deal". www.washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Capitals' Philipp Grubauer to start Game 1 vs. Blue Jackets". Sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  18. ^ McNally, Brian. "Blue Jackets defeat Capitals in OT in Game 1". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  19. ^ McNally, Brian. "Blue Jackets top Capitals in OT again, extend series lead". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  20. ^ Rosen, Dan. "Capitals win Stanley Cup, defeat Golden Knights in Game 5 of Final". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  21. ^ Rosen, Dan. "Grubauer, traded to Avalanche by Capitals for draft pick". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
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  23. ^ a b "Goaltender Philipp Grubauer injured in second period of Avalanche's Game 1 loss to Stars". espn.com. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  24. ^ "2020‑2021 NHL Goalie Stats". quanthockey.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Grubauer Leads Avs to Victory in Vegas as Division Race Tightens". nhl.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  26. ^ "Fleury, Grubauer, Vasilevskiy announced as 2020-21 Vezina Trophy finalists". nhl.nbcsports.com. June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Grubauer Backstops Avs to Overtime Victory in Game 2". nhl.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Star goalie Philipp Grubauer signs with Kraken". Seattle Times. 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  29. ^ Compton, Brian (2 February 2022). "Grubauer makes 19 saves, Kraken shut out Islanders". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Team Ontario wins gold medal at 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge; Team West takes bronze". Hockey Canada. 4 January 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  31. ^ "Best Players Per Game" (PDF). IIHF. 23 April 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  32. ^ a b c "Looking back: How current Avalanche players performed at the World Juniors". milehighhockey.com. 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  33. ^ "The Washington Capitals, after years of frustration, win the Stanley Cup". New York Times. 7 June 2018. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.

External links