Radim Zohorna signs with Lugano

 After playing the past four seasons in North America, 28-year-old Czech forward Radim Zohorna is on his way back to Europe, signing a one-year contract to play in Switzerland with HC Lugano, the National League club announced on Thursday.

“In the past few weeks, together with the technical staff, we have carried out an in-depth analysis of the players available for next season,” said GM Hnat Domenichelli. “Radim is a two-way center who combines physical strength and technical skill. With his arrival, we can count on another center that the staff will be able to use in every game situation.”

Domenichelli and his staff in Lugano are no doubt attracted to Zohorna’s 6-foot-6, 229-pound frame.

Zohorna played over 200 Czech Extraliga games with Kometa Brno and BK Mladá Boleslav before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in January 2021. Since then, he has recorded 18 points in 68 NHL games for the Penguins, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs, splitting each season between the NHL and AHL. Last season, he returned to Pittsburgh, where he played 30 NHL games and 33 with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Zohorna’s older brothers Tomáš and Hynek both currently play in the Czech Extraliga.

In Lugano, Zohorna joins Swiss national team members Mirco Müller and Calvin Thürkau, American Marc Arcobello, Canadian Daniel Carr, Swedish defenseman Carl Dahlström and fellow Czech Jiří Sekáč. 

Concurrent with the signing of Zohorna, Lugano announced that it had reached an agreement with forward Arttu Ruotsalainen for the termination of his contract, which still had another year left on it. The 26-year-old Finn played 51 games with Lugano last season, scoring seven goals and adding nine assists.

“We came to the conclusion that, for the growth of the team, it is important to count on a forward profile with technical and physical characteristics different from those of Arttu,” said Domenichelli. “We have worked with him to find a solution for his future. I would like to thank him for his dedication and professionalism and wish him all the best for his career.”