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

“It was already in the works last year when I came back from North America, but for various reasons it didn’t happen,” said Zohorna. “Now it just feels nice and inspiring to come to Färjestad and show what I can do. I have a great desire to get better and to play for the team.”

“We have been following him for a long time and it was close to him coming last year,” Färjestad sports director Rickard Wallin echoed. “He has had offers to choose from and consider, so we are happy that we finally get to see him in green and white.”

Zohorna played last season in Switzerland for HC Lugano. It was heavily rumored that he would join Czech champion Kometa Brno, where both of his older brothers, Tomáš and Hynek, are already signed for next season. Kometa GM Libor Zábranský even stated when Tomáš was signed last week, “I don’t hide the fact that I would like all three brothers on one line in Brno someday, but Radim’s arrival is not in play at the moment.”

Radim apparently had his heart set on Färjestad.

“I’ve talked to Carl Dahlström, who was my teammate this season,” Zohorna explained. “I’ve probably asked all the questions I could: What’s the city like? how does the club work? what kind of people are there in the club? and a lot more. I’ve done my research.”

A native of Havličkův Brod, Czechia, Zohorna played over 200 Czech Extraliga games with Kometa and BK Mladá Boleslav before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in January 2021. Between 2021 and 2024, he recorded 18 points in 68 NHL games for the Penguins, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs, splitting each season between the NHL and AHL.

The  6-foot-6, 229-pound Zohorna describes himself as “a two-way player, so I can play defense and offense – I try to use my skating and my size and play hard.”

Last season, Färjestad finished fourth in the SHL regular season and was eliminated in the quarterfinals. The team also reached the final of the Champions Hockey League, losing to the ZSC Lions in Zurich.

In addition to Zohorna, Färjestad has under contract for next season ex-NHLers Oskar Steen and Marián Studenič, and NHL prospects Lucas Forsell (Vancouver Canucks), Jack Berglund (Philadelphia Flyers), Noel Fransén (Carolina Hurricanes) and goaltender Melker Thelin (Utah Mammoth).

Oskar Steen heading home, signs long-term with Färjestad After <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/oskar-steen-not-returning-to-boston-agent-says">an off-season of speculation</a>, Oskar Steen is heading back to the club that developed him, signing a five-year contract, <a href="https://www.farjestadbk.se/article/f39asgk-23h01/view">the SHL club announced on Saturday</a>.