Czech forward Jakub Vrána, 29, has signed a two-year contract with Linköping HC, the Swedish Hockey League club announced on Friday.

The move has been heavily rumored for more than two months and, for Vrána, it marks a return to the club where he played from age 15 to 19 and got his first tasted of professional hockey. He recorded 34 points in 98 SHL games as a teenager.

“I personally felt that this day would come at some point,” Vrána is quoted in the club’s announcement. “For me it was just a matter of time. I am very happy to represent Linköping again and now I just can’t wait to get to the city and the organization, and start working together with the team.”

Vrána was born in Prague and, for a while, there was also speculation that he’d sign with Sparta of the Czech Extraliga. However, Linköping was the clear front-runner.

“It’s been a pretty hectic summer for me to be honest,” Vrána continued. “I left the US and then I had a couple of options around Europe to choose from, but for me personally, I chose with my heart. I’m extremely happy to be coming back to Linköping again as I basically grew up in the city. I left my home country when I was 15 years old, played a lot in the academy, got the chance to play senior hockey for the first time and made a lot of friends that I still have close to me. All of that has helped shape me into the person and man I am today, and I’m very grateful for that.”

CONFIRMED: Nicklas Bäckström Is Back In SwedenSwedish center Nicklas Bäckström, 37, has signed a contract to play for Brynäs, the SHL club announced at a press conference on Monday morning. The contract is for one year plus an option.

“We’ve been very clear in recent years that he would be a dream signing for us and that we have now managed to land him of course feels fantastic,” said Linköping sports director Peter Jakobsson. “We know that Jakub’s first choice recently has been to get a new contract in North America, which we fully understand as it is every hockey player’s dream and vision. It indicates a hunger and drive in him which we value very highly. When the opportunity has not come, at the end of the day it has been funneled down to a couple of clubs in Europe and there he has, as he himself expressed in our conversations, chosen with his heart.”

While he played in Linköping, Vrána was chosen 14th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. He established himself as a regular NHLer, recording 52 points in 69 games for Washington in 2019-20, and he regularly represented Czechia at the IIHF World Championships.

However, his career eventually became marred by injuries, declining play and a spell in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program. Over the last four seasons, Vrána has only played in 110 NHL games, recording 49 points. He was also unable to earn a spot on the Czech national team roster last spring, getting cut prior to the 2024 Worlds in Prague.

Jakub Lauko Returns Home To Czechia On Multi-Year DealCzech forward Jakub Lauko, 25, has signed a three-year contract with Dynamo Pardubice, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Friday.

Overall, Vrána has 223 points in 406 NHL regular season games with the Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators. He also has eight points in 38 playoff games, all with Washington, and was part of the 2018 Stanley Cup championship team.

“He has a fantastic shot and is a fantastic skater,” Jakobsson said of Vrána. “It’s easy to say he’s an offensive forward, but he’s developed his defense during his time in North America. We’re a team that wants to work hard and do the right thing all over the court with everything that means, and that goes for Jakub too. In our eyes, we’re getting a complete player.”

Vrána joins a Linköping team that finished 12th in the SHL standings last season and has missed the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. In addition to Vrána, the team’s roster includes ex-NHLers Nick Shore, Oscar Fantenberg, Christoffer Ehn, Remi Ellie and Ty Rattie.

Ducks’ Italian Goalie Prospect Loaned Back To Swedish ClubItalian goaltender Damian Clara, has been loaned by the Anaheim Ducks to Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Saturday.

He was unceremoniously dumped by the Arizona Coyotes back in February 2024 but, according to reports out of Slovakia, Adam Ružička might soon be back in the NHL.

Ružička, 26, played in the KHL for Spartak Moscow last season and, according to Šport.sk, that club is very interested in re-signing the Slovak forward.

“Negotiations are still ongoing,” Spartak senior advisor and former NHLer Valeri Kamensky is quoted. “In the case of a player like Ružička, it’s a longer process. However, I believe that he is waiting for a specific offer from the NHL, as that is his dream. That’s why everything is dragging on a bit.”

No specific NHL team is mentioned.

Ružička had 40 points in 114 games for the Calgary Flames between 2021 and 2024. In late January 2024, he was claimed on waivers by Arizona. However, after just three games for the Coyotes, Ružička was placed on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract after he posted a video on his Instagram account that showed a line of white powder and a credit card. The video was quickly removed.

Adam Ružička & Mário Grman sign with KHL clubs; Hockey Slovakia to vote on the national team issueIn two separate announcements on Wednesday, two Slovak players signed with KHL clubs. Center Adam Ružička signed with Spartak Moscow and defenseman Mário Grman with Admiral Vladivoskok.

Last season, Ružička had 45 points in 65 regular-season games for Spartak and 12 more points in 12 playoff games. Spartak finished third in the KHL’s Western Conference and was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.

At the time he signed with Spartak, Ružička was quoted, “I’m glad that everything turned out this way. I’m especially excited that I’ll be playing alongside my sister’s husband, Michal Čajkovský.”

Interestingly, Čajkovský, a defenseman who was a member of Slovakia’s 2022 bronze-medal-winning Olympic team, has recently left the team and is also a free agent.

It’s worth considering that Ružička’s attempt to move back to the NHL, or at least out of the KHL, might be partly motivated by his wish to play in the upcoming Winter Olympics. While Hockey Slovakia reversed its ban on KHL players last summer, the issue has been controversial among Slovak fans, media and players.

Martin Pospíšil after Olympic qualifiers: “It was never anything against the players” from the KHL Martin Pospíšil was calm and reflective after Slovakia’s 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan on Sunday in Bratislava, which qualified the team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Last summer, brothers Martin and Kristián Pospišíl were vocal about their hesitation to play alongside KHLers at the Olympic qualifiers – eventually choosing to do so. That team did qualify for the Olympics but at the most recent IIHF World Championship, the Slovaks were unable to convince any full-time NHLers to play. That team, which did include two active KHLers, failed to make the quarterfinals.

One has to think that, if it comes down to a choice, KHL players might be omitted from selection if it would pacify NHLers.

Ružička’s only appearance for Slovakia’s senior men’s national team was in qualifying for the 2022 Olympics. Previously, he played in three IIHF World Junior Championships.

Photo © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images.

Predicting Slovakia's 2026 Olympic roster By winning their group at the final round of qualifying this past weekend, the Slovaks have qualified for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

American forward Jimmy Vesey, 32, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Monday.

It’s an interesting move for Vesey, who has played exclusively in the NHL over the past nine seasons. This is his first contract to play in Europe.

“I’m thrilled to be coming to Geneva and starting a new chapter in my career,” said Vesey. “I’ve heard nothing but praise, not only about Switzerland, but also about the city and the organization. It’s great to be part of such a strong team, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve this season and beyond. Our goal is to get back to the top of the league, and I can’t wait to get started.”

“We are very pleased with to have Jimmy on board,” said club sports manager Marc Gautschi. “Thanks to his excellent hockey IQ and his very reliable two-way game, he can be used in all situations and at key moments. In addition, with his immense experience, he will be an important leader in the locker room. We expect him to regain his offensive performance in our league with his passing skills, and his direct and powerful game.”

Born in Boston, Vesey was drafted out of the Eastern Junior Hockey League in the third round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. However, he never signed with Nashville, instead spending the next four years at Harvard University and then signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers in 2016.

American Ex-NHLer Wins Swiss National League MVPThe Swiss Ice Hockey Federation held its annual awards ceremony for the 2024-25 hockey season on Thursday night in Solothurn.

Since 2016, Vesey has played 626 regular-season games in the NHL with the Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche, recording 194 points and 144 penalty minutes.

It was with the Rangers that he played the majority of his NHL games in two separate tours of duty and notched his five most productive seasons, peaking at 35 points in 2018-19. It’s also with the Rangers that he played all 31 of his playoff games, recording nine points.

In 2024-25, he was limited to 43 games split between the Rangers and Avalanche, netting five goals and two assists.

Markus Granlund signs with Swiss club Genève-ServetteFinnish forward Markus Granlund has signed a contract to play with Swiss club Genève-Servette, the reigning club champion of Europe.

Internationally, Vesey won a gold medal for the USA at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia and also won a bronze at the 2015 senior men’s World Championship in Czechia.

Vesey joins a Genève-Servette team that won its first-ever national championship in Switzerland in 2023-24 and won the Champions Hockey League in 2024-25, but has missed the playoffs the last two National League seasons. 

In addition to Vesey, Genève-Servette has under contract for 2025-26 former NHLers Jesse Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Josh Jooris, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Taylor Beck and Tim Berni, whose NHL rights are still retained by the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Photo © Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.

CONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in Switzerland Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

This past weekend, William Nylander was awarded the GuldPucken, or Golden Puck, as the best hockey player in the world from Sweden. He then did an interview with Swedish media where he spoke about the award, the recent season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and his future both on and off the ice. 

“It’s a very special feeling,” Nylander told Expressen’s Adam Johansson. “It's maybe a goal I’ve always had in the back of my mind, to try to be Sweden’s best player. I appreciate being chosen for that because we have so many good Swedish hockey players.”

As Nick Barden of THN’s Toronto page wrote today, William’s father Michael Nylander was a winner of the award. But although the elder Nylander had a lengthy career which included 15 seasons in the NHL, he never won the award. (Scroll down for a complete list of winners.)

“The season just flew by,” Nylander said about 2024-25. “The Four Nations was an incredible experience. Then came the playoffs, which was a disappointment in game seven (against the Florida Panthers). It was tough, but then I went to the World Championship. The fact that we managed to get a bronze, you have to look at that positively.”

For the third straight season, Nylander hit the 40-goal plateau, reaching a career high with 45, which was second in the league, behind only Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers.

“I don’t know, I play with good players,” Nylander replied when asked about his scoring success. “I can’t say exactly what it is, but maybe I’ve become a little more hungry to score goals. Before, maybe I passed the puck first, but I don’t really know. It just happened, I think.”

Former First-Rounder Kieffer Bellows Signs In Sweden American left winger Kieffer Bellows, 27, has signed a one-year contract with Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Sunday.

Nylander was drafted eighth overall by the Leafs in 2014 and, since part-way through the 2014-15 season, has played continuously in Toronto, either for the Leafs or AHL Marlies. However, he returns home every summer to Stockholm. He was asked if that’s where he will put down roots when his career is over.

“Yes, 100 percent,” he confirmed about the Swedish capital. “This is home. Toronto is home in the same way. I love being in both places. I’ve considered Toronto home for 10 years – that’s the longest I’ve lived in one place in my entire life. But here in Stockholm I have all my family and friends, so I love coming back home and seeing them. And then of course I love Stockholm – a wonderful city and it’s just nice to be in Sweden.”

And although he was born in Calgary, Sweden is, of course, the country that Nylander represents internationally, which he has done on a number of times. In June, he was named one of the first six players of the Swedish team for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Olympic Men’s Hockey Teams Name First Six Players All 12 teams that will compete in the men’s tournament of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy have now announced their rosters.

“It’s a special feeling to get to put on that jersey and play with the best Swedes in the world. We have many incredibly talented Swedes, which makes it so exciting. 

“I’ve never been to an Olympics before, so that’ll be even more special,” he condinued. “Milan is a cool city and everything around will be really fun. I’m really excited.”

Reminded that he’s turning 30 this year, Nylander was asked about his future from a personal standpoint.

“I’ve always known that I want children and a family, but it will come when it comes,” he said. “I’m not stressed about it, but I hope it happens one day. When it happens, it happens.”

Ukrainian-Born Ex-Leaf Heads Back To KHLUkrainian-born Swedish winger Dmytro Timashov, 28, has signed a two-year contract with Admiral Vladivostok, several Swedish media outlets have reported.

Golden Puck Previous Winners:

2023–24 Gustav Forsling Florida Panthers D

2022–23 Erik Karlsson San Jose Sharks D

2021–22 Gabriel Landeskog Colorado Avalanche LW

2020–21 Victor Hedman Tampa Bay Lightning D

2019–20 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

2018–19 Robin Lehner New York Islanders G

2017–18 William Karlsson Vegas Golden Knights C

2016–17 Erik Karlsson Ottawa Senators D

2015–16 Erik Karlsson Ottawa Senators D

2014–15 Victor Hedman Tampa Bay Lightning D

2013–14 Joakim Lindström Skellefteå AIK C

2012–13 Jimmie Ericsson Skellefteå AIK LW

2011–12 Jakob Silfverberg Brynäs IF LW

2010–11 Viktor Fasth AIK G

2009–10 Magnus Johansson Linköpings HC D

2008–09 Jonas Gustavsson Färjestad BK G

2007–08 Stefan Liv HV71 G

2006–07 Per Svartvadet Modo Hockey C

2005–06 Kenny Jönsson Rögle BK D

2004–05 Henrik Lundqvist Frölunda HC G

2003–04 Johan Davidsson HV71 C

2002–03 Niklas Andersson Västra Frölunda HC LW

2001–02 Henrik Zetterberg Timrå IK C

2000–01 Mikael Renberg Luleå HF RW

1999–00 Mikael Johansson Djurgårdens IF C

1998–99 Daniel Sedin Modo Hockey LW

1998–99 Henrik Sedin Modo Hockey C

1997–98 Ulf Dahlén HV71 RW

1996–97 Jörgen Jönsson Färjestad BK C

1995–96 Jonas Bergqvist Leksands IF RW

1994–95 Tomas Jonsson Leksands IF D

1993–94 Peter Forsberg Modo Hockey C

1992–93 Peter Forsberg Modo Hockey C

1991–92 Tommy Sjödin Brynäs IF D

1990–91 Thomas Rundqvist Färjestad BK F

1989–90 Rolf Ridderwall Djurgårdens IF G

1988–89 Kent Nilsson Djurgårdens IF C

1987–88 Bo Berglund AIK F

1986–87 Håkan Södergren Djurgårdens IF LW

1985–86 Tommy Samuelsson Färjestad BK D

1984–85 Anders Eldebrink Södertälje SK D

1983–84 Per-Erik Eklund AIK C

1982–83 Håkan Loob Färjestad BK RW

1981–82 Patrik Sundström IF Björklöven C

1980–81 Peter Lindmark Timrå IK G

1979–80 Mats Näslund Brynäs IF LW

1978–79 Anders Kallur Djurgårdens IF W

1977–78 Rolf Edberg AIK C

1976–77 Kent-Erik Andersson Färjestad BK RW

1975–76 Mats Waltin Södertälje SK D

1974–75 Stig Östling Brynäs IF D

1973–74 Christer Abrahamsson Leksands IF G

1972–73 Thommy Abrahamsson Leksands IF D

1971–72 William Löfqvist Brynäs IF G

1970–71 Håkan Wickberg Brynäs IF C

1969–70 Leif Holmqvist AIK G

1968–69 Lars-Erik Sjöberg Leksands IF D

1967–68 Leif Holmqvist AIK G

1966–67 Bert-Ola Nordlander AIK D

1965–66 Nisse Nilsson Leksands IF C

1964–65 Gert Blomé Västra Frölunda IF D

1963–64 Nils Johansson Alfredshems IK D

1962–63 Ulf Sterner Västra Frölunda IF RW

1961–62 Anders Andersson Skellefteå AIK C

1960–61 Anders Andersson Skellefteå AIK C

1959–60 Ronald Pettersson Södertälje SK RW

1958–59 Roland Stoltz Djurgårdens IF D

1957–58 Hans Svedberg Skellefteå AIK D

1956–57 Hans Öberg Gävle Godtemplares IK LW

1955–56 Åke Lassas Leksands IF D

Multiple winners:

3 – Erik Karlsson

2 – Anders Andersson

2 – Leif Holmqvist

2 – Peter Forsberg

2 – Victor Hedman

Photo © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.

Victor Soderstrom Wins Borje Salming Trophy As SHL’s Top Defenseman Victor Söderström has been named the top defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League for the 2024-25 season. As a result, he has been awarded the Börje Salming Trophy.

Canadian winger Jake Virtanen, 28, has signed a one-year contract with Dukla Michalovce, the Slovak Extraliga club announced on Wednesday.

Virtanen, who played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks from 2015 to 2021, spent last season playing for the DEL’s Iserlohn Roosters, where he recorded 19 points in 46 games.

Born in the Vancouver suburb of New Westerminster, BC, Virtanen played junior hockey for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen.

Picked sixth overall by hometown Vancouver in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Virtanen’s career never met its expectations. He recorded exactly 100 points in 317 NHL games spread over six seasons before his contract was bought out by the Canucks in May 2021 after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him. He was cleared of all charges in 2022.

Since then, Virtanen has played in Russia with Spartak Moscow, in Switzerland with EHC Visp and in Germany with the Fischtown Pinguins and Iserlohn. 

Dutch Winger Leaves NHL, Signs In KHLDutch-Canadian winger Daniel Sprong, 28, has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

Internationally, Virtanen represented Canada at one IIHF U-18 World Championships and at two World Junior Championships, winning a gold medal at the 2015 World Juniors.

During his time in Vancouver, Virtanen became somewhat infamous for the “Shotgun Jake” campaign. Whenever Virtanen scored a goal, fans would post a picture or video of themselves on social media “shotgunning” a beer – puncturing the side of the can and quickly drinking its contents – using the hashtag #ShotgunJake. 

Since being promoted to the top Slovak league in 2019, Michalovce has finished second in the regular season twice and made the semifinals three times. Last season, the team finished ninth and lost in the play-in round before the quarterfinals.

Photo © Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images.

Interview: Filip Chytil 100% Healthy ‘Knock On Wood’; Canucks Have ‘Great Potential For The Future’Last season was an eventful one for Filip Chytil that saw him get traded for the first time in his NHL career, but it ended prematurely due to a concussion on March 15. Back home in Czechia for the summer, his summer training is in full swing.

American forward Peter Mueller, 37, has announced his retirement from hockey through the website of his last club, Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga.

A former NHLer, Mueller had played continuously in Europe since 2013 and was on his second tour of duty in Brno. Last season, he had 36 points in 36 regular season games and then 13 points in 20 playoff games. Mueller’s first-period goal in Game 7 of the finals against Dynamo Pardubice turned out to be the series-winner in a 3-0 Kometa victory.

In May, Mueller signed a contract extension with Kometa but has apparently had second thoughts about that decision this summer due to ongoing back issues.

“This is an unexpected decision for us,” said Kometa GM Libor Zábranský. “I have been in contact with Peter for the last 14 days and I respect his decision. Of course, we will miss him and it will be difficult to replace him at this time, but that’s just the way it is. We all wish his entire family only the best for the next stage of their lives.”

Eighteen years. Eighteen years of ups and downs, lots of different countries, different places, different styles and many adventures that always meant chasing the title.

I would like to take this opportunity to officially end my hockey career. Being able to play at the highest level for eighteen years and allowing hockey to take me and my family around the world has been the greatest gift I can imagine. Meeting amazing people along the way has turned into lifelong friendships. Thank you to all the organizations that believed in me and gave me the opportunity to play.

I would like to thank my parents for introducing me to hockey. The early morning wake-ups, the long car rides, and the lakes to skate on whenever it froze. They were the first to believe in me and always supported me.

To my wife Taylar and children Charlie and Rosie, thank you for being with me on this adventure and being my biggest fans. Thank you for always supporting me and keeping me going on bad days. You tried to take my mind off hockey when I needed it. Your support on this journey has been truly amazing and I couldn't have done it without you.

I have been incredibly lucky to play this sport professionally for eighteen years and I look forward to what is to come.
And thank you, Libor, for your trust, for believing in me and allowing me to play for more than twenty minutes (smile). Under your leadership, I experienced some of my most fun years in hockey and I am forever grateful to you for that. I will always be here to support Kometa!

- Peter Mueller

Originally from Bloomington, Minn., Mueller starred in junior hockey for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips and was chosen eighth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

However, he never lived up to his potential in the NHL. He recorded 54 points his rookie season in 2008-09, but was never able to reach that total again. In 297 NHL games over six season with the Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers, Mueller scored 63 goals and added 97 assists for 160 points with 98 penalty minutes. He also went to the training camps of the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.

Former Pens, Avs Defenseman Signs In CzechiaCzech-Canadian defenseman John Ludvig, 24, has signed a one-year contract with Dynamo Pardubice, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Wednesday.

Internationally, Mueller has represented the USA at two U-18 World Championships (winning gold in 2005), two World Junior Championships and two senior men’s World Championships.

In his first tour of duty with Kometa, he was the Extraliga MVP in 2018-19 and led the league with 64 points in 2020-21.

In addition to Kometa, Mueller also played in Switzerland for the Kloten Flyers, in Sweden for the Malmö Redhawks, in Austria for Red Bull Salzburg, in Czechia for HC Vítkovice and in Germany for Grizzlys Wolfsburg.

Photo © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images.

Kometa Brno Returns To Top Of Czech Extraliga Kometa Brno is once again the champion of the Czech Extraliga, defeating Dynamo Pardubice 3-0 in the seventh and decisive game of the finals on Tuesday night in Pardubice. It was the second series in a row that the team won a seventh game on the road.

Swedish Hockey League club Brynäs IF has called a press conference for Monday, at which time it is expected to announce the signing of veteran center Nicklas Backström, HockeyNews.se has reported.

For 37-year-old Backström, it would be a return to the club he played with from age 13 to 19. Backström has 73 points in 121 career SHL games, all for Brynäs. He last played for the Gävle-based club in 2007, the year after the Washington Capitals made him the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Backström, 37, has not played any competitive hockey since October 2023, when he played the first eight games of the season for the Capitals. At that point, he decided to pause his career, as his hip had not responded well to surgery in 2022, although he did not announce his retirement.

Backström recorded 271 goals and 762 assists for 1033 points along with 504 penalty minutes in 1105 NHL regular-season games between 2007 and 2023. He also recorded 114 points in 139 playoff games and was a major part of Washington’s 2018 Stanley Cup championship team, recording 23 points in 20 playoff games that spring.

Throughout his NHL career, he usually played on a forward line as winger Alexander Ovechkin, the league’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

It's official: Jakob Silfverberg returns to BrynäsIt was highly expected last week when Jakob Silfverberg of the Anaheim Ducks announced he was leaving the NHL and now it’s official. The Brynäs IF website has announced that the 33-year-old is coming home to the city of Gävle and the club he grew up playing for.

Despite just being promoted from the tier-two HockeyAllsvenskan last season, Brynäs finished first in the SHL regular-season standings and went all the way to the league finals, losing to Lulea in six games.

Brynäs has been busy this off-season building a team that should be again considered a front-runner for the title.

Just days ago, the Anaheim Ducks lent the team a pair of prospects – goaltender Damian Clara and forward Lucas Pettersson. The team has also signed free agent goaltender Collin Delia and former NHL first-round pick Kieffer Bellows this off-season.

Other players under contract for the coming season include Jakob Silfverberg, Johan Larsson, Robert Hägg, Oskar Lindblom, Michal Kempný and Christian Djoos.

Photo © Brad Mills-Imagn Images.

Ducks’ Italian Goalie Prospect Loaned Back To Swedish ClubItalian goaltender Damian Clara, has been loaned by the Anaheim Ducks to Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Saturday.

Ukrainian-born Swedish winger Dmytro Timashov, 28, has signed a two-year contract with Admiral Vladivostok, several Swedish media outlets have reported.

Timashov, who has a Ukrainian mother and Russian father, created quite a sensation in Sweden – where he was raised – last summer when he signed with KHL club HC Sochi. After recording four points in 22 games, he was released in December and then in January signed with Swiss club Genève-Servette, where he put up nine points over 22 games during the rest of the season.

Now he’s headed back to the KHL.

“I want to play in the KHL to get closer to my family who lives there,” he told Swedish website HockeySverige.se.

Depending on exactly where in Russia his family is located, Vladivostok is an interesting choice. The city lies in the far east of Russia on the Pacific coast – approximately 9,000 km from Moscow.

Timashov was born in Kropyvnytskyi in central Ukraine but left the country with his mother at age seven and grew up in suburban Stockholm, Sweden, which is where he started playing hockey. He played for Djurgården in Stockholm and then went overseas at age 17 to play junior hockey for the Quebec Remparts, where he won the QMJHL rookie-of-the-year award and he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dmytro Timashov Leaves KHL, Signs In SwitzerlandUkrainian-born Swedish winger Dmytro Timashov, 28, has signed a short-term contract in Switzerland with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Friday. His contract runs until Feb. 2 with an option to extend it until the end of the season.

He played 45 NHL games with the Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, scoring four goals and adding five assists, but spent most of his time between 2016 and 2021 in the AHL. Since then, Timashov has played two seasons in the SHL with Brynäs IF and then one season with HC Ajoie in Switzerland’s National League.

Internationally, Timashov represented Sweden at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Vladivostok finished eighth in the KHL’s Eastern Conference last season and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The team also has under contract for 2025-26 Slovak goaltender Adam Húska, Czech defenseman Lukáš Šulák and Slovak national team defenseman Mário Grman.

Photo © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images.

Slovak Ex-Rangers Goalie Returns To KHL Slovak goalie Adam Húska, 28, has signed a one-year contract with Admiral Vladivostok, the KHL club recently announced on social media.

Dutch-Canadian winger Daniel Sprong, 28, has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

Born in the Netherlands, Sprong has lived and played hockey in North America since the age of eight. This is his first professional contract to play hockey in Europe.

Sprong played junior hockey for the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders and was selected in the second round, 46th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Sprong made the Penguins out of training camp as an 18-year-old but, after scoring two goals in 18 games was sent back to junior. Between 2015 and 2025, he recorded 166 points and 68 penalty minutes in 374 NHL regular season games with the Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils. He also had three points in 14 playoff games with Washington, Seattle and New Jersey.

The 2023-24 season was chaotic for Sprong, who started in Vancouver before being traded back to Seattle, getting sent down to the AHL for 19 games before being traded to New Jersey at the deadline.

Goalie Spencer Martin Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Spencer Martin, 30, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

CSKA, colloquially known in North America as the Red Army team, is a perennial powerhouse in Russia but last season finished fifth in the KHL’s Western Conference and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

The club has had a busy off-season trying to improve its roster. In addition to Sprong, the team has also acquired Nikolai Kovalenko, Rhett Gardiner, Denis Zerov and goaltender Spencer Martin this month, with Egor Sokolov being signed and traded away in the process. In addition, it has under contract for 2025-26 ex-NHLers Denis Guryanov, Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Okhotyuk and Vladislav Kamenev.

Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images.

Sharks Free Agent Nikolai Kovalenko Signs In KHL American-born Russian winger Nikolai Kovalenko, 25, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on social media on Saturday.

When you look back at the history of Slovak hockey, elite goaltenders have been few and far between. There used to be a common joke: Slovakia had A-level forwards, B-level defensemen, and C-level goalies.

One notable exception during the Czechoslovak era was Vladimír Dzurilla. At the 1976 Canada Cup, he stole the show and stunned the North American audience by shutting down a roster of Canadian stars. Due to the Iron Curtain, he never got a chance in the NHL, but he was on their radar. Dzurilla collected medals at World Championships and Olympics, and to this day, many consider him the greatest Slovak goalie ever.

Breaking into the NHL wasn’t easy for Slovak netminders. Ján Lašák and Rastislav Staňa only had brief stints despite success in international play. Peter Budaj was the first to stick, carving out a solid career with the Colorado Avalanche and eventually backing up Jonathan Quick with the Los Angeles Kings. He ended with 368 NHL games and is now a respected goalie coach with the Anaheim Ducks.

But the biggest breakthrough came from the smallest guy.

Jaroslav Halák, listed at under six feet tall, was passed over repeatedly at the 2003 NHL Draft despite backstopping Slovakia to a surprise silver at the U-18 World Championship. NHL teams doubted his size. The Montreal Canadiens took a flyer on him in the ninth round and it paid off.

Fittingly, Halak learned of his selection while in line at a McDonald’s.

“They told me I could go in the second or third round,” Halák recalled. “I watched the first five rounds, didn’t hear my name, so I turned it off. Then I went to McDonald’s with some friends for ice cream before in-line hockey game. While I was in line, an unknown number from the U.S. called. It was my agent. He told me Montreal took me in the ninth round. I said thank you, hung up, and went back to my friends.”

From a young age, Halák was obsessed with goalie gear. What he called “knight’s armor.”

“I’ve wanted to be a goalie since I was three or four. Most kids dream of scoring goals, but I always wanted to stop them. I loved the equipment the pads, the mask, it was like a different world to me.”

Halak fought his way through Montreal’s system, eventually going toe-to-toe with the highly touted Carey Price. In 2010, Halák cemented his place in Habs lore with a magical playoff run. Splitting starts with Price, the Slovak stole the headlines and series against Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals, knocking out two Cup favorites with jaw-dropping performances.

Montreal’s Cinderella run ended in the conference finals against the Philadelphia Flyers, but Halák had already made his mark. The Canadiens chose to build around Price, trading Halák to the St. Louis Blues, where he formed a formidable tandem with Brian Elliott. Together, they captured the William M. Jennings Trophy, both as ninth-round picks.

Few sub-six-foot goalies have had Halák’s impact in the modern NHL after 2000s. His technique made him appear bigger than he actually was.

“He looks way taller than he is because he plays nearly upright, which no one else in the NHL does,” said Ján Lašák, Slovakia’s national team longtime goalie coach. “Most goalies crouch and stay low. Halák plays tall and challenges the shot. It’s unique.”

Halák didn’t have a personal goalie coach until he was 16. His development took off when he started working with Roland Melanson, who taught him to hold his stance longer and maximize his size in net. “There weren’t many goalie coaches back then,” he said. “The first one who really taught me to hold my stance and stay up as long as possible to look bigger was Roland Melanson. He worked with me during camps run by my agent, that was even before I got drafted by the Montreal Canadiens,“ Halák recalled.

Predicting Slovakia's 2026 Olympic roster By winning their group at the final round of qualifying this past weekend, the Slovaks have qualified for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

He spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Blues, never replicating his 2010 playoff magic, then had brief stops with the Buffalo Sabres and Washington before landing with the New York Islanders, where he had arguably the best stretch of his career.

In 2014–15, Halák became a fan favorite at Nassau Coliseum, setting a franchise record with 11 straight wins, earning an All-Star nod, and finishing the season with 38 victories, still an Isles single-season record. He led the Islanders to the playoffs, narrowly losing a seven-game series to Washington.

He also faced his toughest challenge there. Despite leading Team Europe to the final at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, playing lights-out for a roster cobbled together from Slovakia, Germany, and Switzerland, Halák found himself demoted in Brooklyn. Thomas Greiss took over the No. 1 job, Jean-François Bérubé was in the mix, and Halák was sent to the AHL at 31.

“That didn’t break me, it motivated me,” Halák said. “I wanted to prove I still belonged in the NHL.” And he did. Halák bounced back to reclaim the Isles’ crease the next season, then joined the Boston Bruins, where he formed a steady tandem with Tuukka Rask.

Ironically, his brilliant NHL career never translated to international medals, much like his compatriot Marián Hossa. Halak came closest at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, where Slovakia led Finland 3–1 in the bronze medal game after two periods, but fell apart in the third and lost 5–3.

“I still think about that game,” Halák admitted. “We took bad penalties, gave up a fluky goal — (Kimmo) Timonen just flung it from the blue line and it deflected in. That was the turning point. Like trying to stop an avalanche.”

Halák’s other great chance came in Boston’s run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in Game 7 to St. Louis, his former team. “You picture yourself lifting the Cup… and then it slips away,” he said.

He later had stints with the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, where he wrapped up his NHL career in 2022–23. He played just 25 games that year, but won seven straight starts a club record for a backup.

Halak finished with 295 career wins, five short of the 300 milestone that haunted him for two years. “I’ve come to terms with it,” he said. “Would’ve been nice to hit 300, but I’m proud of 295. It was a good career.”

He made one final push in the Carolina Hurricanes’ training camp in 2023, but refused an AHL assignment. That’s when he knew it was over.

Still, the numbers speak for themselves: 581 games, 295 wins, 53 shutouts, two Jennings Trophies. No Slovak goalie has come close.

Jaroslav Halák didn’t just overcome the odds, he redefined them. He’s remained humble throughout his career. Even today, if you ask him whether he’s the best goalie in Slovak hockey history, he just smiles and says: “I’ll let others decide that. I’m proud of what I achieved and the name I made for myself in the NHL. For an underestimated kid from (the Bratislava neighborhood of) Petržalka, I’d say that’s pretty good.”

Photo © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images.

Jaroslav Halák Officially Retires: “I’ll Never Wear The Pads Again” He hasn’t played a competitive hockey game in more than two years, but Slovak goaltender Jaroslav Halák never officially ended his career … until now.