Canadian center Connor Bunnaman, 26, has signed a contract to play for Mountfield HK, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Saturday.
“Connor is a very hardworking, ambitious player in his prime,” said Mountfield coach Tomáš Martinec. “I believe that he will adapt quickly, fit well into the team and help us especially in the area in front of the net at both ends of the ice.”
A fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2016, Bunnaman was the captain of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and then played in the Flyers organization from 2018 to 2022. In 54 NHL regular-season games and four playoff games, he scored a goal and added two assists and eight penalty minutes. He was traded to the Florida Panthers in March 2022 but never played with them.
Last season, Bunnaman played in Finland for Kärpät Oulu, recording 19 points in 63 Liiga regular-season and playoff games.
“Connor was very interested in returning to Europe and trying our league,” said Mountfield GM Aleš Kmoníček. “Since our first contact, he has turned down several other offers and has been waiting for our decision. He will arrive in Hradec this weekend and will undergo a medical examination on Monday, after which he should be ready to play.”
Mountfield HK, based in the Eastern Bohemian city of Hradec Králové, is off to a tough start this season with only nine points through its first 10 games, which is tied for last in the league.
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