A New Chapter in Germany
The 26‑year‑old goaltender Jakub Skarek has agreed to a contract with Straubing Tigers of the German DEL, marking his first move abroad after a series of stints in North America that failed to secure a permanent spot in the NHL.
Selected by the New York Islanders in the 2018 draft, Skarek spent six seasons in the AHL with Bridgeport, where he appeared in roughly 40 games over three campaigns and remained stuck behind a deep depth chart, never advancing beyond a third‑string role.
From Long Island to Bavaria
A brief two‑game call‑up to the Islanders in 2025 left him as the fourth‑string option, and after becoming a Group Six free agent he initially signed in Finland before accepting a two‑way offer from the San Jose Sharks, where he logged just 20 games for the Barracuda and posted a 3.12 goals‑against average with an .888 save percentage.
Across seven AHL seasons his goals‑against average always began with a three and his save percentage never climbed above .900, a pattern that prompted the netminder to seek a more promising environment, leading him to Germany where he hopes to earn a larger share of minutes.
Looking Ahead
If his performance in Bavaria translates into solid numbers, the move could reopen doors in other leagues, even beyond Europe, giving Skarek a chance to rebuild his professional trajectory.