American winger Zach Sanford, 30, has signed a one-year contract with HC Lugano, the National League club announced on Monday.

After a nine-year pro career in North America, this is Sanford’s first contract to play in Europe.

“Zach Sanford brings a lot of experience to our team – he’s a very versatile forward that can play on the wing and at center,” said Lugano GM Janick Steinmann. “He’s also used to playing different roles on the power play and is strong on the penalty kill. He will bring our team lots of stability and quality in all aspects of the game. The coaches will have lots of different options down the line up. I’m very happy that Zach decided to join our club and help our team this season.”

A native of Salem, Mass., Sanford was a second-round pick, 61st overall, of the Washington Capitals in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. After a year in the USHL and then two years at Boston College, he signed with Washington in 2016.

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Between 2016 and 2024, Sanford played 334 NHL regular-season games for the Capitals, St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks, recording 104 points and 144 penalty minutes. He also had eight points in 25 playoff games – all for St. Louis – and was a member of the Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup championship team.

He spent the entire 2024-25 season in the AHL for the Rockford IceHogs, where he tallied 51 points in 77 regular-season and playoff games.

Sanford joins a Lugano team that is trying to rebuild its roster after missing the playoffs last season. The team has also added former NHLers Rasmus Kupari, Connor Carrick and Brendan Perlinithis off-season.

Former First-Rounder Rasmus Kupari Signs In Switzerland Finnish forward Rasmus Kupari, 25, has signed a two-year contract with HC Lugano,