Oliver Okuliar

Oliver Okuliar
Okuliar in 2024
Born (2000-05-24) 24 May 2000 (age 26)
Trenčín, Slovakia
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Winger
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Pittsburgh Penguins
WBS Penguins (AHL)
HK Dukla Trenčín
HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš
SaiPa
Mountfield HK
Skellefteå AIK
National team  Slovakia
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2017–present

Oliver Okuliar (born 24 May 2000) is a Slovak professional ice hockey player who is a winger for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously was under contract to the Florida Panthers, and has played for several teams in various major leagues across Europe.

Playing career

On 12 April 2024, Okuliar signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). After attending the Panthers training camp for the 2024–25 season, Okuliar was reassigned to American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers for the entirety of his contract. He contributed offensively with the Checkers in posting 19 goals and 41 points through 69 regular season games. He notched 8 points in 18 playoff contests, helping the Charlotte reach the Calder Cup finals.

As a pending free agent, Okuliar opted to leave North America, signing a two-year contract with Swedish club, Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), on 26 June 2025.

Following his first season with Skellefteå, Okuliar's NHL rights were traded by the Panthers to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Emil Pieniniemi on 13 June 2026. Two days later, Okuliar enacted his NHL out clause and returned to North America for the 2026–27 season after agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the Penguins.

International play

He represented Slovakia senior team at the 2023 World Championship, where he recorded one assist through 6 appearances.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2016–17 Team Slovakia U18 SVK U20 3814122622 —————
2016–17 HK Dukla Trenčín SVK U20 324614 1016712
2017–18 HK Dukla Trenčín SVK U20 37244064137 1810142456
2017–18 HK Dukla Trenčín Slovak 10000 —————
2017–18 HK 95 Panthers Považská Bystrica Slovak.1 40006 —————
2018–19 Sherbrooke Phoenix QMJHL 6614284246 101346
2019–20 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 5533356851 —————
2020–21 HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš Slovak 635814 —————
2020–21 HK Dukla Trenčín Slovak 4117223976 1014524
2021–22 SaiPa Liiga 568101855 —————
2022–23 Mountfield HK ELH 3913162939 18391218
2023–24 Mountfield HK ELH 5224214553 80224
2024–25 Charlotte Checkers AHL 69192241119 1844818
2025–26 Skellefteå AIK SHL 4615142938 1567136
Slovak totals 4820274790 1014524
Liiga totals 568101855 —————
ELH totals 9137377492 263111422

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2017 Slovakia IH18 8th 41126
2018 Slovakia U18 7th 54486
2020 Slovakia WJC 8th 522416
2023 Slovakia WC 9th 60116
2026 Slovakia OG 4th61124
2026 Slovakia WC 9th 72358
Junior totals 14771428
Senior totals 1935818

References

  1. ↑ "Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Forward Oliver Okuliar". NHL.com. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  2. ↑ "Slovak national team forward signs for Skellefteå AIK" (in Swedish). Skellefteå AIK. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  3. ↑ "Florida Panthers acquire Emil Pieniniemi". Florida Panthers. 13 June 2026. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Penguins agree to terms with Oliver Okuliar". Pittsburgh Penguins. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "MS 2023: V záverečnej nominácii zatiaľ 25 mien" [2023 World Championships: 25 names on the final roster so far]. HockeySlovakia.sk (in Slovak). 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2026.