Philipp Grubauer Bio
Philipp Grubauer is a German professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on 25 November 1991 in Rosenheim, Germany, he stands 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) tall and weighs 185 lb (84 kg). He catches left and was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round, 112th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Over his career, he has built a reputation as a calm, technically sound netminder and a respected representative of German hockey on the international stage.
Early Life and Background
Philipp Grubauer was born and raised in Rosenheim, a Bavarian city with a strong hockey tradition. He began his organized career in Germany, playing for his hometown junior team, the Starbulls Rosenheim. He joined the Starbulls in 2004 at the age of 13, working his way up through a club that played in the Oberliga, the third tier of German ice hockey. His first appearance with the senior team came on 17 February 2008, when, at just 16 years old, he posted a 2–0 shutout victory.
That 2007–08 season proved pivotal for the young goaltender. With the Starbulls struggling in the relegation round, the head coach turned to Grubauer, who helped the team win a crucial 2–1 game and played six more contests to help keep Rosenheim in their division. The performance drew the attention of scouts in North America and set the stage for his next chapter.
Path to Hockey
Following the 2007–08 season, Grubauer moved to North America after being selected 25th overall by the Belleville Bulls in the 2008 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. He spent one season as a backup to Mike Murphy, appearing in 17 games, before becoming the Bulls’ starter in 2009–10. On 4 January 2010, he was traded to the Windsor Spitfires, where he helped the club capture the Memorial Cup in May 2010, leading all tournament goaltenders with a .930 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average (GAA).
On 26 June 2010, the Washington Capitals selected Grubauer 112th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Shortly afterward, he was dealt to the Kingston Frontenacs, where he played 38 games before falling ill with mononucleosis in February. On 4 October 2010, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Capitals, formally launching his professional career.
Philipp Grubauer Career
Early Career (2011–2013)
Grubauer turned pro in 2011–12, splitting time between the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays and the AHL’s Hershey Bears. He earned ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors in November 2011 after going 3–0–0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .960 save percentage, then added ECHL Goaltender of the Month and ECHL Rookie of the Month accolades later that season. He finished the year on the ECHL All-Rookie Team.
In 2012–13, Grubauer bounced between Reading and Hershey before earning his first NHL call-up. He made his NHL debut on 27 February 2013 in relief of Braden Holtby against the Philadelphia Flyers, stopping all 14 shots he faced in just over 25 minutes. His first NHL start came on 9 March 2013 against the New York Islanders, a game in which he turned aside 40 of 45 shots.
Washington Capitals Breakthrough (2013–2018)
During the 2013–14 season, Grubauer played 17 games with Washington, posting a 6–5–5 record with a .925 save percentage and a 2.38 GAA. His defining moment came on 17 April 2015, when he became the first German-born goaltender to start and win a Stanley Cup playoff game, a 4–3 victory over the New York Islanders. Following the season, he signed a two-year, $1.5 million contract extension with the Capitals.
Grubauer continued to grow into a reliable NHL option in 2015–16 and 2016–17, earning a spot on Team Europe for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey after Frederik Andersen’s injury. In 2017–18, he set a career high with 15 wins in 28 starts and opened the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs as Washington’s starter. Although Braden Holtby took over the starting duties after Game 2 of the first round, Grubauer was part of the Capitals roster that won the 2018 Stanley Cup, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2018–2021)
On 22 June 2018, Grubauer was traded to the Colorado Avalanche alongside Brooks Orpik. The next day, Colorado signed him to a three-year, $10 million extension. In his first season, he went 18–9–5 with a .917 save percentage and helped lead the Avalanche to a first-round upset of the Calgary Flames. The following year, with Semyon Varlamov’s departure, Grubauer became the undisputed starter and went 18–12–4 with a 2.65 GAA in 36 starts.
His best NHL campaign came in 2020–21. Starting 39 games behind a thin depth chart, Grubauer went 30–9–1 with a 1.95 GAA, a .922 save percentage, and a league-leading seven shutouts. He was named a Vezina Trophy finalist for the first time and helped the Avalanche capture both the West Division title and the Presidents’ Trophy. He carried that form into the 2021 playoffs, where he set a franchise record with a 10-plus-game postseason winning streak.
Seattle Kraken Era (2021–Present)
On 28 July 2021, Grubauer signed a six-year, $35.4 million contract as a free agent with the Seattle Kraken, the NHL’s newest expansion club. He made history on 2 February 2022 by becoming the first Kraken goaltender to record a shutout, a 3–0 win over the New York Islanders. In 2022–23, he started the playoff-clinching game on 6 April 2023 and played all 14 postseason contests, including a first-round upset of his former Avalanche teammates.
Grubauer was the primary starter at the start of the 2023–24 season before a lower-body injury sidelined him on 9 December 2023. He returned in late January and finished the year with a 2.85 GAA and a .899 save percentage. On 29 January 2025, he was placed on waivers and assigned to the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, where he went 5–2–0 with a 2.87 GAA before being recalled on 2 March.
Driving Style and Strengths
Philipp Grubauer is widely regarded as a technically sound, positionally disciplined goaltender who relies on quick lateral movement, sound rebound control, and composure under pressure. His partnership with goaltending coaches throughout his career has emphasized detail and consistency, allowing him to thrive in high-volume starts. He is particularly effective when facing high-danger chances from the slot and has shown a knack for raising his game during playoff stretches.
Notable Events and Milestones
Grubauer’s career is marked by several signature firsts and records: the first German-born goaltender to start and win a Stanley Cup playoff game in 2015, a 2018 Stanley Cup championship with Washington, a Vezina Trophy finalist nod in 2021, a Colorado franchise record for consecutive postseason wins, and the first shutout in Seattle Kraken history in 2022. Each milestone underscores his standing as one of the most accomplished German goaltenders in NHL history.
Philipp Grubauer Career Wins
Across his NHL career with the Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, and Seattle Kraken, Philipp Grubauer has built a steady résumé of regular-season and playoff victories, including a career-best 30-win season in 2020–21 and a Stanley Cup ring in 2018.
NHL Highlights
Grubauer made his NHL debut in February 2013 with the Washington Capitals and recorded his first playoff victory on 17 April 2015 against the New York Islanders. He set a career high with 15 wins in 2017–18 before being part of the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup championship run. In Colorado, he posted 30 wins in 2020–21, tied for the NHL lead in shutouts, and was named a Vezina Trophy finalist. With Seattle, he helped the Kraken clinch their first-ever playoff berth in April 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NHL, Grubauer captured the 2010 Memorial Cup with the Windsor Spitfires and earned multiple ECHL monthly and weekly awards during his 2011–12 season with the South Carolina Stingrays. Internationally, he backstopped Germany back to the top division of the World Junior Championships in 2010 and posted back-to-back shutouts in the 2018 Olympic qualification round.
Philipp Grubauer Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Public information about Philipp Grubauer’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in Rosenheim, Germany, and developed his early game with the local Starbulls Rosenheim organization, the foundation that launched his professional career.
Personal Life
Philipp Grubauer resides in the United States during the NHL season and continues to maintain ties to his hometown of Rosenheim. Verified personal details beyond his playing career are not publicly documented at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Philipp Grubauer entered the 2025 calendar year in a transitional role with the Seattle Kraken organization. After being placed on waivers on 29 January 2025, he reported to the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, where he posted a 5–2–0 record with a 2.87 GAA and an .893 save percentage across seven starts. That run earned him a recall to the NHL roster on 2 March 2025.
Back with the Kraken, Grubauer rejoined a goaltending group that includes Martin Jones and younger options in the system. His AHL stint appeared to sharpen his game, and the Kraken leaned on his experience as they pushed toward a playoff spot in the second half of the campaign.
Looking ahead, Grubauer’s six-year contract runs through the 2026–27 season, giving Seattle flexibility to use him in tandem with its other goaltenders. His familiarity with the club’s system, plus the steadiness he showed in Coachella Valley, suggest he will remain a key veteran presence in the Kraken’s crease as the franchise continues to build.
