As the international transfer deadline in Europe approaches at the end of January, many teams are making their final roster adjustments as they approach the playoffs and the Krefeld Pinguine of Germany’s second-tier DEL2 has signed a couple of veteran players that were cut loose from top-tier leagues.
Japanese right winger Yushiroh Hirano, 29, moves to Krefeld from Austrian club HC Innsbruck of the multi-state ICEHL and German forward Marcel Müller, 36, arrives from the DEL’s Straubing Tigers. Both players are experienced in representing their countries internationally and in North American professional hockey.
Hirano, who played six seasons professionally in North America from 2018 to 2024, is notable for being the first Japanese-born player to score a goal in the AHL on Jan. 23, 2022, for the Abbotsford Canucks against the San Diego Gulls. Overall, he had seven goals, 10 assists and 36 penalty minutes in 53 AHL games in the systems of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils.
This season, Hirano had 25 points in 36 ICEHL games for Innsbruck.
“Our goal is to use Yushiroh Hirano to add depth to our squad for the strenuous weeks ahead,” said Krefeld sports manager Peter Draisaitl. “Yushiroh takes the fifth import spot, which gives our coaches important room for maneuver. Yushiroh is a right-handed shooter, has a dangerous shot and a good nose for the net. We look forward to seeing him in action with us.”
"I am delighted to be able to join the Krefeld Pinguins at an important stage of the season,” said Hirano. “I will do everything I can to help the club up until the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. I can hardly wait to arrive in Krefeld and get to know my teammates and the Krefeld fans.”
Müller hails from Berlin and came up through the ranks of local club Eisbären before transferring to Kölner Haie after his first pro season. He played two seasons in North America from 2010 to 2012, mostly for the Marlies in the AHL but also three NHL games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since then, he’s mostly played back home in Germany – including parts of three seasons in Krefeld – but he’s also had a couple of spells in Sweden with MoDo, Linköping HC and Leksands IF.
Internationally, Müller represented Germany at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Germany and at two IIHF World Championships.
“Marcel Müller is a well-known face in Krefeld and knows the club just as well as we know him and his abilities,” said Draisaitl. “He was not satisfied with his role and playing time in Straubing. That’s why it was an exciting option for us to bring him back. Both the team and Marcel will benefit if he can play in a role that suits him better.”
“I’m happy to be back in Krefeld and can hardly wait to get on the ice with the boys,” said Müller. “I hope that with my experience I can help the Penguins achieve success in the decisive phase of the season but it won’t come automatically – we need to work for it.”
The Pinguine played in the top-tier DEL from 1995 until 2022, winning the national championship in 2022-23, but were finally relegated after a stretch of missing the playoffs seven straight seasons. The team currently sits third in the 14-team DEL2 with 75 points in 41 games.
Draisaitl, 59, played professionally in Germany until 2001 and has worked as a coach almost continually since then in Germany, Czechia and Slovakia. He has been the sports manager of the Pinguine since its relegation in 2022. The team has made the semifinals and quarterfinals the past two seasons.
Draisaitl is the father of Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl.