Slovak right winger Maxim Čajkovič, 23, has signed a one-year contract with HC Verva Litvínov, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Wednesday.

A standout junior with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs and a high scorer for Slovakia at the U18 IIHF World Championships – recording 18 points in 12 games over two tournaments – Čajkovič was a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019 and looked like he had a very decent chance to be an NHL player.

However, Čajkovič’s career took a turn for the worse in December 2020 during Slovakia’s training camp ahead of the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship, which was held in a bubble in Edmonton during the height of the Covid pandemic. Čajkovič – a lock to make the team – was sent home for disciplinary reasons after, reportedly, multiple dirty hits in practise, one of which forced teammate Samuel Krajč out of the tournament with a concussion.

“I was 19 at the time, there was Covid and the situation was what it was,” Čajkovič said recently when asked by Czech media following his recent signing. “It was also such a coincidence, but I put it behind me a long time ago. From then on I just kept going – it was my only misstep. Nothing like that has happened since then and nothing will happen that could weaken or slow down my team or me in any way.”

Injuries have also hampered Čajkovič’s career, which has not even come close to fulfilling expectations. In three seasons in the Tampa Bay, Minnesota Wild and Pittsburgh Penguins organizations, he’s played more games in the ECHL (99) than in the AHL (33) and never more than 63 games in a season.

Čajkovič is the second import player trying to kick-start his career to sign with Litvínov this week, following Swede Filip Sandberg on Monday.