The Pittsburgh Penguins signed free agent forward Radim Zohorna to a one-year, two-way contract. His deal is worth $925,000 for the next season. General manager Jim Rutherford announced the deal on Wednesday.
The Penguins have signed forward Radim Zohorna to a one-year, two-way contract.
The 6-foot-6, 233-pound Zohorna, who is celebrating his 24th birthday today, has played the last six seasons in the Czech Republic’s top professional league.
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Radim Zohorna Signs With the Penguins
Zohorna has spent the last six seasons in the Czech Extraliga. He’s played for both BK Mlada Boleslav and HC Kometa Brno during his time in Czechia. The big forward debuted as an 18-year-old in the 2014-15 season. He has has recorded 28 goals, 27 assists and 55 points in 173 career Extraliga games. Zohorona has also added seven goals and five assists in 30 post-season games.
Zohorna had career-highs in goals (10), assists (12) and points (22) in 56 games. He was sixth on Mlada Boleslav in points as the team placed third in the league. His team clinched a first-round ye before the league suspended play due to COVID-19.
The Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic native was a key piece of the back-to-back championship teams in 2017 and 2018 for HC Kometa Brno. He scored three goals and three assists in14 post-season games in 2018. He was not drafted by an NHL team when he was eligible to be drafted.
“Radim is a smart player with good hockey sense that uses his big size to his advantage,” said Rutherford to the team’s website. “His ability to play all three forward positions will help provide depth to our forward group.”
What This Means for the Future
The big forward gets a nice present of an NHL contract on his 24th birthday. He’s a big body that can play all three forward spots on the ice. Rutherford also praised Zohorna’s hockey sense and his ability to use his size on the ice.
Zohorna’s two older brothers, Thomas and Hynek, both play in the KHL. Current Penguin Dominik Simon was a teammate on the brothers on the 2019 IIHF World Championship squad.
