Martin Prusek (born 30 June 1975) is a Czech former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres and the Atlanta Thrashers, and has served in coaching roles for several NHL teams, including the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings.
Early life and education
Prusek was born in Pardubice, then part of Czechoslovakia. He began playing hockey in his native country, developing in the junior system of HC Petro Česká Lipa before moving to North America to pursue a professional career.
Playing career
Junior and minor leagues
Prusek was selected in the fourth round, 151st overall, of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. He subsequently played for the Sabres' AHL affiliates, including the Rochester Americans and the Cincinnati Swords, where he honed his goaltending skills.
National Hockey League
Prusek made his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres during the 1997‑98 season. Over the course of seven seasons (1997–2004) with Buffalo, he appeared in 149 regular‑season games, posting a career‑high save percentage of .910 in the 2002‑03 season. In the 2005‑06 season, he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers, where he served as a backup goaltender and appeared in 19 games.
European leagues
Following his North American tenure, Prusek returned to Europe. He played in the Finnish SM‑Liiga for HPK and in the Russian Superleague (later the KHL) for HC Moscow Dynamo. He concluded his playing career in the Czech Extraliga with HC Bílí Plavci before retiring in 2010.
Coaching career
National Hockey League
After retirement, Prusek transitioned to coaching, focusing on goaltender development. He joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as a goaltending consultant in 2015 and was promoted to full goaltending coach in 2016. During his tenure, the Lightning reached the Stanley Cup Final three consecutive times (2015‑2017) and won the championship in 2020 and 2021. In July 2022, Prusek was hired by the Detroit Red Wings as their goaltending coach.
Personal life
Prusek is married and has two children. He is known to be fluent in Czech and English and maintains involvement in youth hockey development programs in his native Czech Republic.
Career statistics
Regular season – NHL
- Games played: 191
- Wins: 89
- Losses: 71
- Overtime/shootout losses: 15
- Goals‑against average (GAA): 2.70
- Save percentage (SV%): .910
International play
Prusek represented the Czech Republic at the IIHF World Junior Championships in 1995, contributing to the team's bronze‑medal performance.
Legacy
Martin Prusek is recognized for his longevity as both a player and a coach, contributing to NHL teams’ goaltending depth and development programs across two continents.
