Swiss defenseman Raphael Díaz has agreed to a one-year contract to play for EV Zug next season, the National League club announced on Thursday.

As is common in Switzerland, he will continue to play for Fribourg-Gottéron for the rest of the current season. He was a member of the Fribourg team that won the Spengler Cup this season.

For Díaz, who also on Thursday turned 39, this will be a bit of a homecoming. He played for the central Swiss club from his childhood almost continuously up until 2021, when he signed with Fribourg-Gottéron. He was captain of the Zug team from 2017 to 2021.

“I am really looking forward to playing for my childhood club again, where it all started,” said Díaz.

“Raphael is still an incredibly good player,” said Zug team manager Reto Kläy. “He is an absolute leader type and will make our team better next year.”

Zug currently sits sixth in the National League standings with 56 points in 35 games. Fribourg-Gottéron is eighth with 49 points in 35 games.

Díaz played in North America from 2011 to 2016. In 201 NHL regular-season games with the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and New York Rangers, he recorded 49 points and 62 penalty minutes. He also had one assist in 13 playoff games.

Díaz was born in Switzerland to a Spanish father and Swiss mother and holds dual citizenship. Internationally, Díaz has represented Switzerland at eight IIHF World Championships, winning two silver medals. He has also played in four consecutive Winter Olympics – 2022 in Beijing is his most recent international appearance.