Free agent forward Filip Zadina signed a two-year contract with Hockey Club Davos of the Swiss National League, the Switzerland team announced Monday.
A first-round draft pick and sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2018, Zadina posted 41 goals and 50 assists for 91 points in 262 career NHL games with the Red Wings and San Jose Sharks.
Last year, the native of Pardubice, Czechia signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Sharks and had a career-high 13 goals in 72 games.
Zadina, who was selected by former general manager Ken Holland ahead of 2024 Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, scored only 28 goals (12 power-play goals, 16 even-strength goals) on 380 shots and was minus-51 in five seasons with the Red Wings.
In 2023-24, Zadina was tied for the second-worst, plus-minus rating at minus-44 with Chicago Blackhawks forwards Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev. San Jose teammate William Eklund was an NHL-worst, minus-45.
Huskies pick Works as captain
Michigan Tech hockey coach Joe Shawhan named senior forward Jack Works the captain of the 2024-25 Huskies.
Works, who scored all three Michigan Tech goals in the final of last year’s Great Lakes Invitational against Michigan State at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, will be joined on the leadership team by alternate captains Isaac Gordon, Chase Pietila and Trevor Russell.
Works, a native of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, had career-highs in points (20), goals (10) and assists (10) last year. He was named to the CCHA All-Academic Team and has twice received the team’s Rick Yeo Unsung Hero Award.
Gordon, a sophomore forward from Landmark, Manitoba, led the Huskies with 36 points and 18 goals as a freshman last season. He was named the CCHA Rookie of the Year and to the All-CCHA Second Team and CCHA All-Rookie Team.
Sophomore defenseman Pietila (Howell, Michigan) was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He ranked fourth in the CCHA and eighth nationally amongst freshmen defensemen in assists (19).
Senior defenseman Trevor Russell (Old Hickory, Tennessee) has appeared in 72 games in three seasons with the Huskies. He’s a CCHA All-Academic Team member and has twice attended the New Jersey Devils’ Development Camp.
Bruins sign forward Johnson
The Boston Bruins signed veteran forward Tyler Johnson to a professional tryout.
Johnson, 33, played last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, recording 17 goals and 31 points in 67 games.
He is coming off a seven-year, $35-million deal he signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning in July of 2017.
In 39 career regular-season games against the Red Wings, Johnson has nine goals, 12 assists and is +11.
In Game 4 of the 2015 playoffs at Joe Louis Arena, he had two goals, including the winner in OT and an assist in a span of 7:51, enabling Tampa Bay to wipe out a late two-goal deficit and even the series 2-2.
Defenseman Bortuzzo lands in Utah
The Utah Hockey Club signed 6-foot-4 defenceman Robert Bortuzzo to a one-year, two-way contract.
Bortuzzo, 35, finished the season with the New York Islanders after being acquired from the for a draft pick in December of 2023.
Drafted 78th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007, Bortuzzo has 20 goals and 74 points in 560 career games split between the Penguins, St. Louis Blues, and Islanders.
The Thunder Bay, Ont., native helped the Blues to their first Stanley Cup victory in franchise history in 2019.