Czech forward Lukáš Rousek, 26, has signed a two-year contract with HV71, the SHL club announced on Tuesday. Rousek had played the last five seasons in North America in the Buffalo Sabres organization.

“It will be a lot of fun and is an exciting challenge,” said Rousek. “I know how high the Swedish Hockey League is and that Jönköping is a hockey-crazy city, and I look forward to being part of HV71.”

“Lukáš’s greatest quality is his passing game,” said HV71 GM Björn Liljander. “He is a real playmaker who sees the game very well and always finds an open space – a player you can use both as a center and a winger.”

Born in the small town of Ostrov but raised in Prague, Rousek turned pro with local club Sparta, recording 90 points in 176 Extraliga regular-season and playoff games. He was somewhat of a late bloomer, never representing Czechia at the U-18 or U-20 levels. 

Buffalo drafted Rousek at age 20 in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2021 and 2025, Rousek played primarily for the AHL’s Rochester Americans but also played 17 NHL games for the Sabres, scoring one goal and adding three assists.

HV71 was SHL champion a recently as 2016-17 but fell on hard times soon after and was relegated. Since returning to the top Swedish league in 2022, the club has not made the playoffs and the last two seasons barely avoided relegation.

Photos © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

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