Tomáš Hertl, who was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights from the San Jose Sharks late in the 2023-24 season, has recently been the subject of trade rumors again, which THN Vegas writer Julian Gaudio recently explained in detail.

Hertl is currently back home in his native Czechia with his family, training for the upcoming season. Recently, he was interviewed by Hokej.cz journalist Ondřej Mach, whose piece was published on Friday morning in Europe. In it, Hertl spoke about the speculation about him heading to the Carolina Hurricanes, his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered in March, and his off-season with the family in Prague.

What is your view on what has been circulating in the North American media recently?
“Honestly, I didn’t even know – it was the people around me who told me. I knew the situation – they can’t trade me at all until July 1, and then I have three teams that I can choose from. Then general manager Kelly McCrimmon called me and said he was sorry that this had even come up, and that nothing was being discussed. I was calm; I have the situation in hand. When a journalist writes something, everyone’s reaction is quick. I know that (the Golden Knights) are counting on me for next year, but you can never know anything 100 percent. That’s just how it works.”

Do you appreciate the Golden Knights GM reaching out to you?
“Yeah, that was nice. Everyone was writing to me that I was going to Carolina and I didn’t know why, based on our conversations after the season had ended. Vegas is one of those aggressive teams, so nobody has anything 100 percent certain, whether it’s Jack Eichel or whoever. They want to win, they have a quality team, and they make big moves. We’ll see what happens in the free agent market in a week.”

Are you happy with how your first full season in Sin City went?
“I would have been happier if we’d lasted longer in the playoffs. But after the start, when I was getting used to playing with new guys and a new team, things started to click around December. I found my line and the team was playing great. Plus, we had one of the best power plays in the league. Everything was going great until I got injured 10 games before the playoffs. That was an unfortunate moment – I was worried that I wouldn’t even get back in time for the playoffs. The first round was good, then the second against Edmonton… I didn’t score a goal, even though I had some decent games … but (scoring) was expected of me, so that was a disappointment.”

REPORT: 'Smoke' Surrounding Possible Golden Knights and Hurricanes Trade Involving Tomas HertlThe Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly working on a trade that would send Tomas Hertl to the Hurricanes. 

During the playoffs, were you taking any anesthetics?
“A little bit. That comes with the territory, and you don’t even think about it. Of course, I would have preferred not to have gotten injured. I had scored two hat tricks in two weeks (prior to the injury), was scoring goals, and I could have reached a new (career) high. It would have been better if it hadn’t happened.”

When you mentioned the setup in the Vegas organization, do you feel the pressure to succeed? In eight years in the league, the Golden Knights have made it to the finals twice and won the Stanley Cup.
“The first year, they were lucky to (make the finals). But the organization is set up that way, it works great. The general manager goes for it every year; he takes advantage of the gaps in the salary cap. Like Tampa. They don’t rely on drafting a player who will be good in two or three years. That’s why I was really happy to go there. Careers are getting shorter, and you want to be on a team where you can win something.”

Radim Zohorna Signs With Swedish ClubCzech forward Radim Zohorna, 29, has signed a two-year contract with Färjestad BK, the SHL club announced on Friday.

Are you 100 percent healthy yet? The injury didn’t let you go to the World Championship.
“Yeah, it’s fine. It doesn’t limit me at all. Now I have the whole summer to strengthen my shoulder, but that shouldn’t be a problem. I should be 100 percent. It’s just a matter of strengthening it, but according to the doctors, and how I feel, I should be fine.

Is the preparation for the upcoming season in full swing?
“I don’t take any big time off. I’m happy to keep going. The kids keep me up to speed, but I’m already in preparation – I’m training with Radim Zohorna and Martin Nečas, like I have for the last three years. I’m in the gym for now and I’m going to the ice soon. And I’m also doing some sports around here.”

And are you planning to relax somewhere by the sea?
“We’re not flying anywhere; we’re more staying around home. When the 4 Nations were played in February, we went on vacation. We have a lot going on now – we have some weddings to go to in the next four weeks. Maybe we’ll take a long weekend, but for now we’d rather have some family time at home in Prague.”

© Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Martin Nečas: “I’m ready for anything” A restricted free agent, Martin Nečas has been the focus of trade rumors the entire off-season, and now he has elected for salary arbitration.

Canadian defenseman Brady Keeper, 29, has signed a one-year contract with the Glasgow Clan, the Scottish-based EIHL club announced on Tuesday.

“Happy to be getting the opportunity to play and I can’t wait to get the games going,” Keeper is quoted in the club’s announcement. “Super excited to see the rink packed and loud.”

A one-time NHLer, injuries have forced Keeper to miss two of the last four seasons completely, limiting him to just 59 competitive games in that time frame.

“Brady is a rugged defensive defenseman who skates well and is highly competitive,” said Glasgow coach Corey Neilson. “He enjoys confrontation, blocking shots and winning. He’s had some unlucky seasons of late with injuries and is excited to get back to playing at a high level.”

Born in Cross Lake, Man., Keeper played junior hockey for the OCN Blizzard of the MJHL and played two years of college hockey for the University of Maine Black Bears.

Undrafted, Keeper signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers in the spring of 2019 and played one of his three NHL games right away. He spent the following two seasons in the Florida organization, playing in a playoff game in the 2020 Eastern Conference bubble in Toronto and another regular-season game in 2021.

Anton Lundmark ‘Shocked’ By Panthers’ Contract Offer Two years ago, Anton Lundmark was playing in a semi-professional regional league in the third tier of Swedish hockey. This season, at age 23, he made his SHL debut with Timrå IK, where he scored five goals, had four assists and zero (!) penalty minutes in 53 regular-season and playoff games.

Keeper signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks but broke two bones in his leg during the pre-season and missed the entire 2021-22 season. He spent the following two seasons with the AHL affiliates of the Canucks and Montreal Canadiens but did not play another NHL game.

Last summer, Keeper signed with HK Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga but he did not appear in any games for the club. In November, the club reportedly stated, “He has a valid contract in Europe with HK Poprad for this season, although he is currently not receiving a salary due to non-fulfillment of the contract. If family reasons finally allow him to come, he is welcome in the team.”

Last season, Glasgow finished seventh in the 10-team EIHL. The club seems determined to improve its standing this season, having already signed Finnish goaltender Sami Aittokallio, a former Colorado Avalanche prospect. The team also has British national team players Robert Lachowicz and Cade Neilson.

Photo © David Kirouac-Imagn Images: Brady Keeper playing for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2023 pre-season. 

Finnish Ex-Avalanche Goalie Signs In Scotland Finnish goaltender Sami Aittokallio, 32, has signed a one-year contract with the Glasgow Clan, the Scottish-based EIHL club announced on Thursday.

Canadian left winger Scott Wilson, 33, has signed a two-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday. It will be Wilson’s fifth KHL team in five seasons.

Originally from Oakville, Ont., Wilson played junior hockey for the Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL before playing three years of college hockey at Umass-Lowell. He was a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011 and signed with Pittsburgh in the spring of 2014 after his junior season.

Between 2014 and 2020, Wilson played 193 NHL regular-season games for the Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres, recording 51 points and 58 penalty minutes. He also played 26 playoff games, all with Pittsburgh, recording 10 points and 11 penalty minutes.

His only complete NHL season was 2016-17, and he was part of Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup championship team that year, playing in 78 regular-season games and 20 playoff games.

RUMOR: Jesse Puljujärvi Headed To Switzerland After AHL FinalsJesse Puljujärvi is currently playing in the AHL’s Calder Cup finals. On Sunday, he scored an overtime goal in Game 5 keep his Charlotte Checkers alive against the Abbotsford Canucks.

After two more AHL seasons in the Florida Panthers organization, Wilson first went to the KHL in 2022. In four seasons with Vityaz Moscow Oblast, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Wilson has 117 points in 188 regular-season and playoff games.

Wilson joins a Sibir team that finished seventh in the KHL’s Eastern Conference last season and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The team also includes former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikita Soshnikov and Toronto prospect Vladislav Kara.

Photo © Brad Penner-Imagn Images: Scott Wilson playing for the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019-20 season. 

Former NHL Goalie Chris Driedger Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Chris Driedger, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.

Jesse Puljujärvi is currently playing in the AHL’s Calder Cup finals. On Sunday, he scored an overtime goal in Game 5 keep his Charlotte Checkers alive against the Abbotsford Canucks.

There are still one or two AHL games to go. After that, according to Swiss media outlet Blick, his next stop will be Switzerland. The Blickarticle is behind a paywall, but Finnish newspaper Helsing Sanomathas reported some of its contents, and states that that Puljujärvi has already signed a contract with a Swiss club for next season.

While his exact destination is less clear, the article states that it’s rumored to be HC Lugano. Lugano, which has already signed Connor Carrick and Rasmus Kupari this off-season, is rebuilding its roster after a disappointing season.

When Puljujärvi was waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins in February to terminate his contract “by mutual agreement” ahead of the international transfer deadline, it was widely expected that he’d end up in Europe. Switzerland was one of his rumored destinations at that time, as was Kärpät Oulu, his hometown club in Finland. However, he surprisingly signed with the Florida Panthers instead.

Jesse Puljujarvi Waived By Penguins – Headed Back To Finland? The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi on unconditional waivers on Saturday for the purposes of terminating his contract, according to multiple sources.

Puljujärvi only played 31 NHL games this season – 26 with Pittsburgh and five with Florida, scoring four goals and adding six assists. He had 26 points in 26 AHL regular-season games split between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Charlotte, and has 11 points in 17 playoff games through Sunday.

Puljujärvi was chosen fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has 128 points in 387 career NHL regular-season games, and six points in 27 playoff games.

In June 2023, he underwent double hip surgery and missed half of the following season.

Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Jesse Puljujärvi: “It’s been a long process, I’m really happy to be here”The last couple of seasons have been an ordeal for Jesse Puljujärvi. He split a rather unproductive 2022-23 campaign between the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes, during which he played in constant pain. Then in June 2023, he underwent double hip surgery. He didn’t return to the ice until January and, after a half-season split between the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the NHL, he’s now playing in his second IIHF World Championship for Finland, and first since 2017.

Canadian forward Nic Petan, 30, has signed a two-year contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta, the National League club announced on Monday.

Petan spent last season in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan, where he recorded 50 points and 30 penalty minutes in 60 regular-season and playoff games. Prior to that, he had spent his entire career in North America.

“I chose Ambrì for the next chapter of my career because not only have I heard great things about the city, the fans, the staff and also the players, but I think it’s gonna be a great fit for me and the style of play that I bring,” Petan said in a social media video. “Coming from an Italian background, the culture and all that comes with it, I think it’s going to be a great fit.”

Born in Delta, BC, Petan played minor hockey for the North Shore Winter Club in North Vancouver and junior hockey for the Portland Winterhawks. In 2012-13, Petan led the WHL in assists, won the CHL top scorer award, helping Portland to a league title and a berth in the Memorial Cup.

In 2013, Petan was chosen in the second round, 43rd overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL Entry Draft. Between 2015 and 2024, he played 170 NHL games for the Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild, recording 35 points and 46 penalty minutes. He was also briefly in the New York Rangers system.

Another Finnish D-Man Leaves Toronto For Europe Finnish defenseman Topi Niemelä, 23, has signed a one-year contract with the Malmö Redhawks, the SHL club announced on Monday.

At 5’9” and 174 lbs, Petan was undersized by NHL standards and spent most of his time in the AHL.

“I’m a smaller, skilled, competitve forward,” said Petan. “I’m a playmaker but I also love scoring goals. I bring speed, quickness, and a playmaking ability to the game. I do respect the defensive side of the game, so as I’ve gotten older, I like to bring an offensive side but also a defensive side to my game.”

Internationally, Petan played for Canada at the 2014 and 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning a gold in the latter.

Petan’s signing comes days after Ambrì-Piotta signed Chris Tierney, who also played last season in the KHL. In addition to Petan and Tierney, Ambrì-Piotta has under contract for next season former NHLers Tim Heed, Chris DiDomenico and goaltender Gilles Senn.

Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images: Nic Petan playing for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2022-23 season. 

Chris Tierney Moves From KHL To SwitzerlandCanadian center Chris Tierney, who turns 31 on July 1, has signed a one-year contract with Ambrì-Piotta, the National League club announced via social media on Friday. The contract is reportedly for one year plus an option.

Finnish defenseman Topi Niemelä, 23, has signed a one-year contract with the Malmö Redhawks, the SHL club announced on Monday.

“Topi is a skilled defenseman who likes to contribute on offense,” said Redhawks GM Oscar Alsenfelt. “He’s really good on the power play, has a sharp first pass and good mobility on the ice. He is already at a high level in many parts of his game, but also has the potential for even more.”

At six feet and 181 lbs, Niemelä spent the past two seasons in the AHL playing in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, but his age, Alsenfelt’s words and the fact that he signed just a one-year contract seem to indicate that the Finnish defenseman views signing in Sweden as a strategic step back in his ultimate goal of reaching the NHL, rather than a permanent return to Europe.

“We have been looking for a defenseman with Topi’s profile and skill set, and he wants to come here because he sees a strong development environment with us,” said Alsenfelt. “He wants to get better and break into the NHL – and we will help him with that.”

Niemelä is the second Finnish defenseman in the Leafs’ organization to head back to Europe this off-season after Roni Hirvonen signed with Finnish club Kärpät Oulu a week ago. 

Leafs Prospect Returns Home To Finland Finnish defenseman Roni Hirvonen, 23, has signed a one-year contract with Kärpät Oulu, the Liiga club announced on Monday.

Coincidentally, Niemelä comes from Oulu in northern Finland and played for that city’s famous Kärpät club from his childhood through his early days as a pro until he was 21. Niemelä was chosen in the third round, 64th overall, by Toronto in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Niemelä has 64 points and 48 penalty minutes in 177 career Liiga games and 70 points and 65 penalty minutes in 147 career AHL games.

If Niemelä returns to North America, it remains to be seen whether it will be in the Toronto organization or elsewhere. For now, the Leafs retain his NHL rights.

Niemelä joins a Malmö team that finished 10th in the SHL regular season last year and lost in the quarterfinals. The roster so far includes ex-NHLers Janne Kuokkanen, Robin Salo, Fredrik, Händemark and goaltender Marek Langhamer. It also includes prospects Eemil Viro (Detroit Red Wings) and Lauri Pajuniemi (New York Rangers).

Photo © David Kirouac-Imagn Images: Topi Niemelä playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2023 pre-season. 

Ex-NHL D-Man Moves From Czechia To Sweden Czech defenseman Michal Kempný, 34, has signed a one-year contract with Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Friday.

Slovak defenseman Branislav Mezei, 44, has signed a one-year contract extension with his hometown club, HK Nitra, to play what will be his 26th season of professional hockey, the Slovak Extraliga club announced on Saturday.

“Throughout (last) season, I had in my mind that it wasn’t the last season,” said Mezei. “So it wasn’t a decision that was made at the end, but throughout the season, depending on how I felt and how much fun I had with my teammates. I was more or less determined during the season to continue.

“I haven’t even had the thought of ending my career yet, but of course, it also depends on the club whether they are still interested in bringing me back,” he continued. “Management said yes, so that also made the decision easier for me.”

Nitra, a city of about 80,000 people located approximately 100 km northeast of Bratislava, is where Mezei was born and raised until age 16, when he went overseas to play junior hockey for the OHL’s Belleville Bulls, who no longer exist.

His junior career included an OHL championship and an appearance in the 1999 Memorial Cup, which also included Roberto Luongo, Francois Beauchemin, Brad Stuart, Nick Boynton, Brian Campbell and teammate Jonathan Cheecho. He also played in that year’s World Junior Championship, where Slovakia won its first-ever IIHF medal – a bronze. His teammates included Ladislav Nagy and Marián Gáborik. Other players in the tournament included Luongo, Brian Gionta, Simon Gagné, Nikolai Antropov and Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

Brett Ritchie Moves From Slovakia To Germany – Nitra Club President Blames Slovak RefsCanadian right winger Brett Ritchie, 31, has been released from his contract with Slovak Extraliga club HK Nitra and has signed to play the remainder of the current season with the Schwenninger Wild Wings, the German DEL club announced on Wednesday.

Mezei was chosen in the first round, 10th overall, by the New York Islanders in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. The Islanders had acquired the pick from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Trevor Linden.

Between 2000 and 2008, Mezei played 527 NHL games for the Islanders and Florida Panthers, recording 24 points and 311 penalty minutes.

Mezei split the 2004-05 lockout season between Oceláři Třinec in the Czech Extraliga and Dukla Trenčín in Slovakia, where his teammates included Radek Bonk, Pavol Demitra, Marián Hossa and Gáborik. Between 2008 and 2014, he played for eight different clubs in the KHL, Czechia and Finland before returning to Nitra in October 2014. He’s remained there ever since.

Highlights since his return to Nitra over a decade ago include national titles in 2016 and 2024. Along the way he mentored young defenseman Šimon Nemec, who now plays for the New Jersey Devils.

“I’m home, I’m playing for my hometown, that’s always extra motivation,” said Mezei. “My son also plays hockey, so I’m glad that I can still be there and I can be a role model for him, so it all came together somehow.”

Photo © Lou Capozzola-Imagn Images: Branislav Mezei playing for the Florida Panthers in the 2005-06 season. 

8th-seeded Nitra improbably wins Slovak titleRather improbably, HK Nitra is the champion of the Slovak Extraliga. After finishing eighth out of 12 teams during the regular season, Nitra barely survived a play-in series against Dukla Trenčín, but then eliminated, in succession first-seeded HK Poprad in the quarterfinals, second-seeded Dukla Michalovce in the semifinals, and then swept third-seeded HK Spišská Nová Ves in the finals.

Czech defenseman Michal Kempný, 34, has signed a one-year contract with Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Friday.

“It’s an honor to be part of such a fantastic organization with a proud tradition and passionate fanbase,” said Kempný. “I look forward to meeting everyone in the organization and becoming part of the Brynäs family. I can’t wait to get started.”

“Michal is a player who has won at several different levels in his career,” said Brynäs sports director Johan Alcén. “He has incredible experience and is a guy who is driven by competition and wants to win. We’ve received many great references for Michal and it feels really good and exciting that Michal will play for us.”

Originally from Hodonín in southeastern Czechia, Kempný played junior hockey just across the border in Skalica, Slovakia and then played in the Czech Extraliga for Kometa Brno and Slavia Prague and for one season in the KHL for Avangard Omsk.

Never drafted by an NHL team, Kempný signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016 at age 26. From 2016 to 2022, he played 247 NHL regular-season games for the Hawks and Washington Capitals, recording 63 points and 146 penalty minutes. He also recorded six points in 30 playoff games and was a member of Washington’s 2018 Stanley Cup championship team.

Kempný signed as a free agent with the Seattle Kraken in 2022 but was assigned to the AHL and, after two games, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement. He then signed with Sparta Prague on Oct. 25, 2022, where he spent the following three seasons.

There Will Be A New Czech Champion - Třinec's 5-Year Reign Ended By Sparta After five long years, Oceláři Třinec’s reign as Extraliga champion is over, following the team’s quarterfinal defeat at the hands of Sparta Prague before a sellout crowd of 17,220 at O2 Arena on Monday.

Internationally, Kempný has represented Czechia at five IIHF World Championships, winning a gold medal on home ice in 2024, and at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Kempný joins a Brynäs team that is coming off a season in which it shattered all expectations. Just after being promoted from the HockeyAllsvenskan, Brynäs finished first overall in the regular season and made it to the SHL finals, where it lost to Lulea in six games.

In addition to Kempný, the club’s roster includes ex-NHLers Jakob Silfverberg, Johan Larsson, Robert Hägg, Oskar Lindblom, Christian Djoos, Axel Jonsson-Fjällby, Mattias Norlinder and goaltender Erik Källgren.

Last year’s team included defensemen Charles-Édouard D’Astous and Victor Söderström – however, D’Astous has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Söderström, whose rights have been traded twice in the past few months, has signed with the Boston Bruins.

Photo © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Robert Hägg Returns To Sweden Swedish defenseman Robert Hägg, 30, has signed a one-year contract with Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Wednesday. Hägg is returning to Sweden after spending the past 11 seasons in North America, split between the NHL and AHL in six different organizations.

Czech goaltender Aleš Stezka, 28, has signed a three-year contract with Kometa Brno, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Wednesday.

Stezka had played the last two seasons in North America in the Seattle Kraken organization.

“After the end of the season, my agents and family started discussing what to do next,” said Stezka. “Mr. Zábranský approached me and asked if I would be interested in signing a contract with Kometa. The negotiations were very pleasant, positive, and I have to say that the agreement was great, fast, and fair. I liked the vision for the future. We had talked about it some time ago, but I decided to stay overseas. I am very happy that Mr. Zábranský contacted me again and that I can become part of a club with a great tradition and great fans.”

Originally from Plzeň in Western Bohemia, Stezka played youth hockey in Tremosna and Liberec before playing two years of junior hockey in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede and Chicago Steel. He was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

After playing six pro seasons back home in Czechia, which included 112 Extraliga games for Bílí Tygři Liberec, Piráti Chomutov and HC Vítkovice.

Former NHL Goalie Chris Driedger Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Chris Driedger, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.

Over the past two seasons, he played one NHL game for the Kraken on Feb. 24, stopping 20 of 23 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He spent the rest of the time playing in the AHL for the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

He’s coming to a Kometa team that is the reigning Extraliga champion, and has under contract for 2025-26 former teammate Peter Mueller and also 25-year-old defenseman Filip Král, who played two games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023-24 and whose NHL rights are currently retained by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It’s clear to me that I’m going to a club that has the highest ambitions, is followed by the media and the pressure is huge from all sides,” said Stezka. “But I’m ready for it. I’ll try to do my best for Kometa. We want to play good hockey, to get results and entertain our fans.”

Photo © Bob Frid-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.

Canadian goaltender Chris Driedger, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.

For Driedger, who spent the 2024-25 season in the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets organizations but spent the entire season in the AHL, this will be his first time playing for a team outside North America.

“With the signing of Chris Driedger, we have filled both goalie positions for next season,” said Traktor GM Alexei Volkov, himself a former NHL goaltender. Driedger is slated to share the crease with Sergei Mylnikov Jr., the son of a former NHL and Soviet national team goalie.

Volkov said that Driedger “is in the prime of his goalie career. He’s a large goalie who played decently in the NHL and became a World Championship medalist. Now Chris needs a new challenge, which he will get at Traktor. I’m confident that our organization and coaching staff will help him with a quick adaptation and reach the top level of the KHL.”

Driedger, who hails from Winnipeg, played junior hockey for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans and Calgary Hitmen, was chosen in the third round, 76th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

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.

Between 2014 and 2024, Driedger played 67 NHL regular-season games for the Senators, Panthers and Seattle Kraken, compiling a record of 31-24-5 with a goals-against average of 2.45, a save percentage of .917 and five shutouts. He also played three playoff games for Florida in 2021.

Internationally, Driedger played in six of Canada’s 10 games at the 2022 IIHF World Championship in Finland, backstopping the team to a silver medal.

Driedger, whose NHL rights are for now retained by Winnipeg, joins a Traktor team that includes former NHLers Vladimir Zahkarov and Jordan Gross, as well as prospects Arseni Koromyslov (St. Louis Blues), Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Toronto Maple Leafs), Matvei Guskov (Minnesota Wild) and Vasili Glotov (Buffalo Sabres).

Photo © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images: Chris Driedger playing for the Seattle Kraken in the 2023-24 season. 

Ex-NHL D-Man Jordan Gross Changes KHL TeamsAmerican defenseman Jordan Gross, 30, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Friday. Gross played his first season in Europe last season in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk, where he recorded 42 points in 77 regular-season and playoff games.