Jakub Jeřábek

Jakub Jeřábek (born on May 12, 1991 in Plzeň) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for Vityaz Podolsk of the KHL.

Playing career
Jeřábek played as a youth with hometown club, HC Plzeň. He made his senior debut with HC Lasselsberger Plzeň of the Tipsport Extraliga during the 2008–09 season. During that season he also played for the HC Berounští Medvědi of the 1. Liga. He continued playing for the HC Plzeň 1929 for the next seasons. In the 2010-11 season, Jeřábek also appeared playing for the HC Slovan Ústečtí Lvi of the 1. Liga and in the 2011-12 season, he also played for the Piráti Chomutov and SK Kadaň of the 1. Liga.

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.

In order to play at a higher level, Jeřábek left Plzeň after 8 senior seasons in signing a one-year contract with Russian outfit, Vityaz Podolsk of the KHL on May 5, 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 NHL interest and at the conclusion of his contract with Vityaz, Jeřábek signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Montréal Canadiens on May 1, 2017. In the 2017–18 season, Jeřábek was initially assigned to AHL affiliate, Laval Rocket. On November 22, 2017, he received his first recall to the NHL. He appeared in 25 games with the Canadiens before on February 21, 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 against his former team 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 Cup winning Capitals, Jeřábek was signed to a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers on August 20, 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 AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, for the remainder of the season.

On May 3, 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, Vityaz Podolsk of the KHL. After the end of the 2019-20 season, Jeřábek signed another one-year contract to the Vityaz Podolsk.

International play
Jeřábek participated as the member of the Czech Republic team at the 2009 World U18 Championship and at the 2010 World Junior Championship.

Then Jeřábek captained the Czech Republic at the 2011 World Junior Championship and was the third highest scoring defenceman of the tournament, after Ryan Ellis and Dmitri Orlov.

Jeřábek also played at the 2016 and 2017 World Championship s.