Ales Stezka, the 28-year-old goaltender formerly with the Seattle Kraken, has signed a three-year contract with HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga. The Czech team officially announced the signing on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, marking Stezka's return to his native country after spending the last two seasons in North America within the Kraken organization. Stezka was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, making him available to sign with any team.
Stezka's journey to North America began after the Minnesota Wild drafted him in the fourth round in 2015. However, he never signed with the Wild, instead continuing his professional career in Czechia. In 2023, the Seattle Kraken offered him an entry-level contract, bringing him to North America for the first time. During his initial season with the Kraken, Stezka primarily served as the fourth-string goalie and as a backup for Chris Driedger with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the American Hockey League (AHL). He posted a strong performance in the AHL, recording a 2.48 goals-against average (GAA), a .914 save percentage (SV%), and two shutouts in 27 appearances, with an 18-6-2 record.
The Kraken appreciated Stezka's performance and offered him a two-way contract extension for the 2024-25 season, paying him a $300,000 minor league salary. However, his second season with Coachella Valley saw a decline in his statistics, with a 3.07 GAA, a .899 SV%, and a 9-12-9 record in 26 games. He lost his starting position to the younger goalie Niklas Kokko. Despite the struggles in the AHL, Stezka achieved a significant milestone by making his NHL debut with the Kraken on February 23, 2025, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Unfortunately, the game resulted in a 4-1 loss, with Stezka allowing three goals on 23 shots.
With the emergence of other young goaltenders within the Kraken's system vying for AHL playing time, a suitable role for Stezka moving forward became less clear. Consequently, he opted to return to the Czech Extraliga, where he had previously achieved considerable success. In the 2022-23 season, while playing for HC Vítkovice, Stezka was named the league's best goalie, boasting a 2.14 GAA and a .924 SV% in 39 games. Throughout his career in the Czech league, he has maintained a 2.45 GAA, a .913 SV%, and six shutouts in 92 games.
Stezka expressed his enthusiasm about joining HC Kometa Brno, a team known for its high ambitions and dedicated fanbase. He had previously been approached by the team but chose to stay overseas at that time. Upon returning to Czechia, Stezka stated he was very happy to become part of a club with a great tradition and great fans. HC Kometa Brno is the reigning Extraliga champion and has former teammate Peter Mueller under contract for the 2025-26 season, along with Filip Král, who played two games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023-24.
His decision to return to the Czech Extraliga offers him an opportunity to revitalize his career and re-establish himself as a top goaltender in the league. While it may seem like a step back from the NHL, it provides him with a chance to regain his form and potentially attract interest from NHL teams in the future.
