Jakub Jeřábek

Jakub Jeřábek (born 12 May 1991) is a Czech professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for HC Plzeň in the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Originally undrafted by teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), Jeřábek has previously played for the Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, and St. Louis Blues.

Playing career Jeřábek played as a youth with his hometown club, HC Plzeň. Undrafted, he remained in the Czech Republic and made his senior debut with Plzeň in the Czech Extraliga during the 2008–09 season.

Over the following three seasons, Jeřábek continued his development before cementing a full-time role on the blueline of Plzeň in the 2012–13 season. In establishing himself as the club's top defenceman, Jeřábek was recognised in the 2015–16 season, as the league's best defenceman in compiling 33 points in 52 games with Plzeň.

To play at a higher level, Jeřábek left Plzeň after eight senior seasons in signing a one-year contract with Russian outfit, Vityaz of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on 5 May 2016. In the ensuing 2016–17 season, Jeřábek instantly assumed the role as Vityaz's top pairing defenceman. He led the blueline with 5 goals and 29 assists for 34 points in 59 games, placing him 6th in overall scoring. He was also selected to represent Vityaz at the 2017 KHL All-Star Game.

In attracting National Hockey League (NHL) interest and at the conclusion of his contract with Vityaz, Jeřábek signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on 1 May 2017. In the 2017–18 season, Jeřábek was initially assigned to American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Laval Rocket. On 22 November 2017, he received his first recall to the NHL. He appeared in 25 games with the Canadiens before on 21 February 2018, Jeřábek was traded to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft. Jeřábek played in 11 games during his first season with the Capitals, and scored his only goal with the Caps in a March game against the Canadiens. Jeřábek also started the first two playoff games of the first round against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup run, but was subsequently scratched for fellow rookie Christian Djoos.

As a free agent from the Stanley Cup-winning Capitals, Jeřábek was signed to a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers on 20 August 2018. Before starting the 2018–19 season, Jeřábek was traded to the St. Louis Blues for a conditional 6th-round draft pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft. He played in a single game with the Blues before he was placed on waivers and re-assigned to their AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, for the remainder of the season.

On 3 May 2019, as an impending free agent from the Blues, Jeřábek opted to leave the NHL and return on a one-year contract to Russian club, HC Vityaz of the KHL. Following two seasons with Vityaz Podolsk, Jeřábek left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year contract to continue in the KHL with HC Spartak Moscow on 29 July 2021.

On 6 June 2022, as a free agent, Jeřábek opted to return to his native Czech Republic, returning to the ELH after six years in agreeing to a one-year contract with HC Oceláři Třinec.

International play Jeřábek captained the junior Czech Republic team at the 2011 World Junior Championships and was the third-highest-scoring defenceman of the tournament, after Ryan Ellis and Dmitri Orlov.

Personal life His father is former Czech soccer player Jaroslav Jeřábek. His sister is Czech international handball player Markéta Jeřábková.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2006–07 HC Lasselsberger Plzeň CZE U18 448212997 71016 2007–08 HC Lasselsberger Plzeň CZE U18 173172076 85494 2007–08 HC Lasselsberger Plzeň CZE U20 293111426 ————— 2008–09 HC Lasselsberger Plzeň CZE U20 408202832 50338 2008–09 HC Lasselsberger Plzeň ELH 20002 ————— 2008–09 HC Berounští Medvědi Czech.1 40116 ————— 2009–10 HC Plzeň 1929 CZE U20 12412166 41238 2009–10 HC Plzeň 1929 ELH 3702222 20002 2010–11 HC Plzeň 1929 CZE U20 30220 ————— 2010–11 HC Plzeň 1929 ELH 4116720 40112 2010–11 HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi Czech.1 20002 ————— 2011–12 HC Plzeň 1929 ELH 3213422 100226 2011–12 Piráti Chomutov Czech.1 40002 ————— 2011–12 SK Kadaň Czech.1 111458 ————— 2012–13 HC Škoda Plzeň ELH 4926844 1713412 2013–14 HC Škoda Plzeň ELH 471121324 601112 2014–15 HC Škoda Plzeň ELH 487253240 40338 2015–16 HC Škoda Plzeň ELH 524293356 1105520 2016–17 HC Vityaz KHL 595293456 41128 2017–18 Laval Rocket AHL 171101116 ————— 2017–18 Montreal Canadiens NHL 251346 ————— 2017–18 Washington Capitals NHL 111340 20112 2018–19 St. Louis Blues NHL 10002 ————— 2018–19 San Antonio Rampage AHL 52691528 ————— 2019–20 HC Vityaz KHL 5310162638 40112 2020–21 HC Vityaz KHL 466121824 ————— 2021–22 Spartak Moscow KHL 3934710 50008 2022–23 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 524232722 2138116 2023–24 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 515303514 ————— 2024–25 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 231784 10000 2025–26 HC Plzeň ELH 4426841 70117 ELH totals 47828149177311 834242875 KHL totals 197246185128 1312318 NHL totals 372688 20112

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2009 Czech Republic WJC18 6th 6 1 1 2 22 2010 Czech Republic WJC 7th 6 1 1 2 0 2011 Czech Republic WJC 7th 6 1 7 8 4 2016 Czech Republic WC 5th 8 0 5 5 2 2017 Czech Republic WC 7th 8 0 2 2 4 2022 Czech Republic OG 9th 4 0 0 0 4 Junior totals 18 3 9 12 26 Senior totals 20 0 7 7 10

Awards and honours Award Year RefELH Czech Extraliga Champion 201320232024 Best Defenceman 2016 KHL All-Star Game 2017 NHL Stanley Cup champion 2018