American forward Peter Mueller, 36, has signed to play with Kometa Brno for the remainder of the season, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Wednesday. Mueller previously played for Kometa from 2018 to 2022.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzpppmr5-Tk[/embed]
“Peter has never hidden the fact that Brno is his second home,” said Kometa sports manager Tomáš Vincour. “He has a really strong emotional relationship with Kometa and its fans, which played a big role in his return.”
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.
Mueller has played in Europe almost continuously since 2013 – he returned to play the 2016-17 season with the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Otherwise, in addition to Czechia, his career has taken him to Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Germany. He split last season between Vítkovice in the Czech Extraliga and Grizzlies Wolfburg in the German DEL.
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 the past, he has helped win a lot of games with his professional attitude and shooting instinct,” Vincour continued. “I played with Peter myself, so I know what he is capable of on the ice, and the fact is that scoring is still troubling us this season. But it’s never just about one player – the arrival of Peter can play an important role, but we need the whole team’s help to move up the standings.”
Kometa has scored only 15 goals through its first eight games this season, and consequently sits 13th in the 14-team league. Kristián Pospíšil – the brother of Calgary Flames forward Martin – is the team’s leading scorer so far with seven points. The team’s roster also has Canadian defensemen Brandon Davidson and Nicolas Beaudin – both ex-NHLers – and 21-year-old prospects Maroš Jedlička (Colorado) and Jakub Kos (Florida).
Related articles:
2029 Worlds in Budapest & Brno? “We are determined to ...
Radim Zohorna signs with Lugano
Czech Team Postpones Next 2 Games Due To Mysterious ...