Czech defenseman Jakub Zbořil, 28, has signed a one-year contract with HC Vítkovice Ridera, the Czech Extraliga club recently announced.

The signing came just 10 months after Zbořil signed a five-year contract with rival Extraliga club Dynamo Pardubice last October. However, Zbořil and Pardubice mutually agreed to terminate the contract after just one season, in which Zbořil recorded 19 points in 46 regular-season and playoff games.

“Jakub is a modern defenseman with excellent skating, an excellent overview of the game and toughness in 1-on-1 battles,” said Vítkovice coach and former NHL player Václav Varaďa. “He has experience from the NHL, AHL and the national team, which will be useful in our young squad.”

Describing Zbořil as a player, Varaďa said, “He can handle difficult moments of the game. I believe that he will help the team on and off the ice and he will quickly win the hearts of our fans.”

Zbořil was born in Brno, Czechia and grew up in the ranks of Kometa Brno, where he played youth and junior hockey before going overseas at age 17 to play for the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs.

He was chosen in the first round, 13th overall, by the Boston Bruins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. From 2017 until March of 2024, he played in the Bruins organization, splitting time between Boston and the club’s AHL farm team in Providence. In 76 NHL games, Zbořil scored one goal and added 15 assists and 28 penalty minutes.

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.

At the 2023-24 trading deadline, Zbořil was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets but finished the season in the minors.

Prior to last season, Zbořil’s only career Extraliga games occurred during the 2020-21 season, where he suited up with Kometa for 18 games before the start of the pandemic-delayed NHL training camp.

Internationally, Zbořil represented Czechia at two IIHF U-18 World Championships, two World Junior Championships and the 2023 World Championship.

In 2024-25, Vítkovice finished 12th out of 14 Extraliga teams. In 2025-26,the team has under contract Slovak national team regulars Marek Hrivík and Samuel Kňažko, Ralfs Friebergs of the Latvian national team, Krzysztof Maciaś of the Polish national team, French national team defenseman and former NHLer Yohann Auvitu and 21-year-old Edmonton Oilers prospect Petr Hauser.

INTERVIEW: David Pastrňák Looking Forward To First Game Against Marchand David Pastrňák spends his summers in Europe – he, his Swedish wife and their daughter split their time between Sweden and his home country in Czechia.

Russian defenseman Nikolai Goldobin, 29, has been claimed off KHL waivers by SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL website announced on Monday. He had been waived by Spartak Moscow, the club for which he’d played the past two seasons.

Born in Moscow, Goldobin went overseas at age 16 to play junior hockey for the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. He became a first-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, selected 27th overall.

Goldobin spent most of the 2014-15 season playing in Finland for HIFK Helsinki before signing with the Sharks late in the season and moving to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.

Between 2015 and 2019, Goldobin played 125 NHL games for the Sharks and Vancouver Canucks, recording 46 points and 24 penalty minutes. In February 2017, he was traded from San Jose to Vancouver for Danish winger Jannik Hansen.

Ex-Canuck Nikita Tryamkin Signs 3-Year Contract Extension In KHL Russian defenseman Nikita Tryamkin, 30, has signed a three-year contract extension with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg that will run through the end of the 2027-28 season, the KHL club announced recently.

Goldobin has spent the past five seasons in the KHL playing for CSKA Moscow, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Spartak, recording 277 points in 339 regular-season and playoff games.

A perennial powerhouse in the KHL, last season SKA finished a disappointing seventh in the Western Conference and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs despite a star-studded lineup that included Ivan Demidov, Alexander Nikishin, Mikhail Grigorenko, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Arseni Gritsyuk, Nikita Zaitsev and Tony DeAngelo.

Heading into 2025-26, only Zaitsev remains from that group. The team has replaced coach Roman Rotenberg with Igor Larionov and added center Igor Larionov Jr. and North Americans Rocco Grimaldi Trevor Murphy, Brennan Menell and Joey Blandisi, who have some NHL experience.

Alexander Burmistrov & Adam Clendening Latest To Sign With Chinese KHL Team Ever since a major rebranding a week ago, the Shanghai Dragons have hired a high-profile head coach and signed 14 new players, including several ex-NHLers. On Saturday, five new signings were announced, including Russian center Alexander Burmistrov and the re-signing of American defenseman Adam Clendening. Rocco Grimaldi Will Play For Igor Larionov In KHL American forward Rocco Grimaldi, 32, has signed a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL announced on Wednesday.

Ever since a major rebranding a week ago, the Shanghai Dragons have hired a high-profile head coach and signed 14 new players, including several ex-NHLers. On Saturday, five new signings were announced, including Russian center Alexander Burmistrov and the re-signing of American defenseman Adam Clendening.

Other players announced on Saturday include Croatian winger Borna Rendulić, 32, who played 15 NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks, Russian winger Vladimir Kuznetsov and Russian goaltender Andrei Tikhomirov.

“Burmistrov is a talented, fast center who excels in the faceoff circle and brings important contributions on the penalty kill,” said Dragons CEO Igor Varitsky.

Originally from Kazan, Tatarstan, Burmistrov, now 27, came up through the local Ak Bars club, playing one KHL game with the team in 2007-08, and then spent one season with the OHL’s Barrie Colts. He was chosen eighth overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2010 and 2013, he spent three seasons with the Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets franchise, then returned to Russia in 2013. Burmistrov then returned to North America in 2015 and played for the Jets, Arizona Coyotes and Canucks before returning again in 2018.

Burmistrov had 101 points and 139 penalty minutes in 348 NHL games. He also has 170 points in 492 KHL regular-season and playoff games with Ak Bars, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Spartak Moscow and Dynamo Moscow. After not playing the first half of last season, he only played eight games last season for Dynamo, going pointless.

Internationally, Burmistrov played for Russia in two IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal in 2014 in Minsk and a bronze at home in Moscow in 2016.

Alexander Burmistrov Signs With Dynamo Moscow Russian center Alexander Burmistrov, 33, has signed a contract to play the remainder of the current season with Dynamo Moscow, the KHL club announced recently.

“Clendening brings valuable NHL experience and plays an important role both defensively and on the power play,” said Varitsky. “We consider him one of our leaders, and last season he showed he has the ability to guide his teammates on and off the ice.”

Clendening, 32, was born in Niagara Falls, N.Y. and became a pro via the U.S. National Team Development Program and Boston University. He was selected in the second round, 36th overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2014 and 2019, Clendening played 90 NHL regular-season games for the Blackhawks, Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, Coyotes and Columbus Blue Jackets, recording 24 points and 42 penalty minutes. The last NHL games he ever played were seven playoff games for Columbus in 2019, picking up one assist and one minor penalty.

Clendening spent the 2023-24 season in Finland with Ilves Tampere and last season in the KHL with Kunlun, recording 22 points and 65 penalty minutes in 61 games.

Internationally, Clendening won two gold medals for the USA at the U-18 World Championships and a bronze at the 2021 Worlds in Riga.

Gerard Gallant Takes Over KHL’s Shanghai Dragons Gerard Gallant is the new head coach of the Shanghai Dragons, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

A busy week just keeps getting busier for the Chinese-based KHL club, which was previously known as Kunlun Red Star.

On Monday, defenseman Jake Chelios announced his retirement. On Wednesday, the club announced the signing of new head coach Gerard Gallant, and on Friday and Saturday, the club announced the signings of nine new players, including Slovak Olympic bronze-medal-winning goaltender Patrik Rybar and Canadian forwards Ryan Spooner and Nick Merkley.

The Kunlun-Shanghai franchise has played its home games in suburban Moscow since early 2020 and will play in St. Petersburg this season, but plans to return to China in either 2026 or 2027.

The team has not made the playoffs since its inaugural KHL season in 2016-17.

Ex-NHLers Spooner & Merkley Sign With Shanghai Canadian former NHL forwards Ryan Spooner and Nick Merkley have signed one-year contracts to play for the Shanghai Dragons, the Chinese-based KHL club announced on Saturday.

Canadian former NHL forwards Ryan Spooner and Nick Merkley have signed one-year contracts to play for the Shanghai Dragons, the Chinese-based KHL club announced on Saturday.

Also signed on Saturday were goaltender goaltender Andrei Kareyev, defenseman Doyle Somberby and forward Nikita Popugayev.

“Ryan Spooner is no stranger to the KHL and his strengths are well known: elite skating, speed, hockey IQ and a team-first mentality,” said Dragons CEO Igor Varitsky. “He can ignite the offense and move the puck deep into the offensive zone, contributing both at even strength and on the power play.”

Spooner, 33, was chosen in the second round, 45th overall, by the Boston Bruins in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2012 and 2019, he played 325 NHL regular season games for the Bruins, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, recording 167 points and 63 penalty minutes. He also had two points in four playoff games for Boston in 2017.

Since 2019, he’s played in the KHL for all but two games for HC Lugano in Switzerland. He has 271 points in 336 KHL regular-season and playoff games for Dinamo Minsk and Avangard Omsk.

2015 first-rounder Nick Merkley signs with KHL’s Avtomobilist YekaterinburgCanadian forward Nick Merkley, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, the KHL club recently announced. For the past two seasons, Merkley played for Dinamo Minsk, the KHL’s Belarusian-based club.

“As for Nick Merkley, he is a skilled right-handed forward with speed and a scorer’s touch,” said Varitsky.

Merkley, 28, was drafted 30th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes.

Between 2017 and 2022, Merkley recorded 15 points in 41 NHL games for the Coyotes, New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks. He also had 13 points in 19 games for Finnish Liiga club Ässät Pori early in the 2020-21 season before the NHL belatedly commenced its season amid Covid restrictions.

Over the past three KHL seasons for Dinamo Minsk and Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Merkley has 101 points in 209 regular-season and playoff games.

Jake Chelios Retires From Chinese KHL Team Defenseman Jake Chelios, 34, has announced his retirement via video on the Instagram page of the Chinese-based KHL club that he’s played for the past six seasons.

It’s been a busy week for the Chinese-based KHL club, which was previously known as Kunlun Red Star but is undergoing a major rebranding.

On Monday, defenseman Jake Chelios announced his retirement. On Wednesday, the club announced the signing of new head coach Gerard Gallant, and on Friday the club announced the signings of five other players, including Slovak Olympic bronze-medal-winning goaltender Patrik Rybar.

The Kunlun-Shanghai franchise has played its home games in suburban Moscow since early 2020 and will play in St. Petersburg this season, but plans to return to China in either 2026 or 2027.

Gerard Gallant Takes Over KHL’s Shanghai Dragons Gerard Gallant is the new head coach of the Shanghai Dragons, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

Canadian former NHL forwards Ryan Spooner and Nick Merkley have signed one-year contracts to play for the Shanghai Dragons, the Chinese-based KHL club announced on Saturday.

Also signed on Saturday were goaltender goaltender Andrei Kareyev, defenseman Doyle Somberby and forward Nikita Popugayev.

“Ryan Spooner is no stranger to the KHL and his strengths are well known: elite skating, speed, hockey IQ and a team-first mentality,” said Dragons CEO Igor Varitsky. “He can ignite the offense and move the puck deep into the offensive zone, contributing both at even strength and on the power play.”

Spooner, 33, was chosen in the second round, 45th overall, by the Boston Bruins in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2012 and 2019, he played 325 NHL regular season games for the Bruins, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, recording 167 points and 63 penalty minutes. He also had two points in four playoff games for Boston in 2017.

Since 2019, he’s played in the KHL for all but two games for HC Lugano in Switzerland. He has 271 points in 336 KHL regular-season and playoff games for Dinamo Minsk and Avangard Omsk.

2015 first-rounder Nick Merkley signs with KHL’s Avtomobilist YekaterinburgCanadian forward Nick Merkley, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, the KHL club recently announced. For the past two seasons, Merkley played for Dinamo Minsk, the KHL’s Belarusian-based club.

“As for Nick Merkley, he is a skilled right-handed forward with speed and a scorer’s touch,” said Varitsky.

Merkley, 28, was drafted 30th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes.

Between 2017 and 2022, Merkley recorded 15 points in 41 NHL games for the Coyotes, New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks. He also had 13 points in 19 games for Finnish Liiga club Ässät Pori early in the 2020-21 season before the NHL belatedly commenced its season amid Covid restrictions.

Over the past three KHL seasons for Dinamo Minsk and Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Merkley has 101 points in 209 regular-season and playoff games.

Jake Chelios Retires From Chinese KHL Team Defenseman Jake Chelios, 34, has announced his retirement via video on the Instagram page of the Chinese-based KHL club that he’s played for the past six seasons.

It’s been a busy week for the Chinese-based KHL club, which was previously known as Kunlun Red Star but is undergoing a major rebranding.

On Monday, defenseman Jake Chelios announced his retirement. On Wednesday, the club announced the signing of new head coach Gerard Gallant, and on Friday the club announced the signings of five other players, including Slovak Olympic bronze-medal-winning goaltender Patrik Rybar.

The Kunlun-Shanghai franchise has played its home games in suburban Moscow since early 2020 and will play in St. Petersburg this season, but plans to return to China in either 2026 or 2027.

Gerard Gallant Takes Over KHL’s Shanghai Dragons Gerard Gallant is the new head coach of the Shanghai Dragons, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

Canadian goaltender Olivier Rodrigue, 25, has signed a one-year contract with Barys Astana, the Kazakhstan-based KHL club announced on Thursday.

This will be Rodrigue’s second time playing for an overseas club following a 23-game stint with the Graz 99ers in Austria in 2020-21 when the start of the AHL season was delayed by pandemic-related restrictions.

Born in Saguenay, Que., Rodrigue played junior hockey for the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs and Moncton Wildcats. He was chosen in the second round, 62nd overall, by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Since 2021, Rodrigue has played almost entirely with the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers’ farm club, but he did play two NHL games in 2024-25 – one relief appearance and one start – recording an .867 save percentage, 3.10 goals-against average, and was charged with one loss.

This summer, Rodrigue remained third in Edmonton’s depth chart behind Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard and, with the Oilers still looking to upgrade their goaltending, Rodrigue no longer figured in their plans.

Another Goalie Moves From NHL To KHL Canadian goaltender Louis Domingue, 33, has signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Thursday.

Internationally, Rodrigue played for Canada at the 2018 IIHF U-18 World Championship and he won a gold medal with Canada at the 2020 World Juniors although he didn’t appear in a game as the third goalie behind Joel Hofer and Nico Daws.

Rodrigue joins a Barys team that has missed the playoffs three straight years. He will probably form a tandem with Kazakh national team goalie Andrei Shutov.

Last season, Barys started the season with several import players but, after a terrible start to the season, the club released Michael McLeod, Nathan Beaulieu, Will Butcher, Chase De Leo and Alex Grant within the space of a couple weeks. The team finished last in the KHL’s Eastern Conference.

Barys Astana Terminates Contracts of Nathan Beaulieu, Will Butcher, Michael McLeodKazakhtan-based KHL club Barys Astana announced the release of three NHL players on its roster on Friday. 

Gerard Gallant is the new head coach of the Shanghai Dragons, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

Gallant, who has coached over 700 NHL games and was last behind the bench of the New York Rangers in 2022-23, has been rumored to be headed to the KHL for several weeks, although the exact team was unknown.

“As it turned out, Gallant emerged as the clear choice, meeting every single one of team’s criteria,” Dragons CEO Sergey Belykh is quoted in the club’s announcement. “We reached out to him outlining the club’s vision and key objectives.”

Established in 2016, the Shanghai Dragons were known up until last season as Kunlun Red Star – ostensibly a Chinese-based team, although they haven’t played a game in China since early 2020. The team has been a league doormat almost since its inception – making the playoffs in 2016-17 when it had no import quota but has since missed the playoffs for eight straight years.

Since 2020, the Kunlun-Shanghai franchise has played its home games in the Moscow area and will play this season in St. Petersburg. However, according to the club’s announcement, they would like to return to China in 2026-27, or 2027-28 at the latest.

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.

To that end, the Dragons seem to have high expectations for Gallant.

“We understood that building a strong team usually takes more than one season,” said Belykh. “Unfortunately, we don’t have that kind of time. That’s why the Dragons needed not just an experienced, high-profile head coach, but a specialist capable of building a competitive team in the shortest possible time.”

Belykh seems to expect Gallant to pull of similar magic that he did in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18, leading the first-year team to a Pacific Division title and the Stanley Cup final.

So far, the Dragons have under contract for 2025-26 goaltender Jeremy Smith and brothers Spencer and Parker Foo, who were all naturalized Chinese citizens through playing for Kunlun and represented China at the 2022 Winter Olympics. The team also has 24-year-old Winnipeg Jets prospect Austin Wong. Defenseman Jake Chelios, another naturalized Chinese citizen, announced his retirement just days ago.

Jake Chelios Retires From Chinese KHL Team Defenseman Jake Chelios, 34, has announced his retirement via video on the Instagram page of the Chinese-based KHL club that he’s played for the past six seasons.

Last season, the club’s roster also included ex-NHLers Nail Yakupov, Tomáš Jurčo, Brandon Yip, Adam Clendenning, Tyler Graovac, Rourke Chartier and Ryan Merkley.

The team’s previous coaches have included Mikhail Kravets, Greg Ireland, Ivano Zanatta, Alexei Kovalev, Curt Fraser, Bobby Carpenter and Mike Keenan.

Gallant, 61, played 11 seasons in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning from 1984 to 1995. He has coached in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Knights and Rangers, compiling a regular-season record of 369 wins, 262 losses and four ties.

Craig Ramsay Out As Coach Of SlovakiaHockey Slovakia has decided to change the head coach of its men’s national team. Out is Canadian Craig Ramsay, who has held the job for the past eight years, and in is Vladimír Országh, a former national team assistant coach who served as interim head coach during the most recent IIHF World Championship.

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.