Svoboda, 23 (3/7/95), led the Czech Republic's Extraliga with 33 wins in 2017-18, helping HC Plzen record a league-leading 107 points during the regular season. In his first full-time season in the Czech Republic's top league, he posted a 2.10 goals-against average and .926 save percentage for HC Plzen, who lost to Kometa Brno - the eventual league champions - in the semifinals.

The 6-foot-3, 176-pound goaltender was originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round (208th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. He was instrumental in helping HC Dukla Jihlava secure promotion to the Extraliga last season, as he led the Czech second division in save percentage at .944 in 25 games. He appeared in two games for the Czech Republic at the 2015 World Junior Championship, going 1-1 with a .942 save percentage and 1.51 goals-against average.