Penguins bring back forward Radim Zohorna
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The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed forward Radim Zohorna, bringing him back on a one-year contract worth $775,000. It is believed to be a two-way deal.
A native of Czechia, Zohorna (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) initially joined the Penguins as an undrafted free agent in April 2020 and spent two seasons with the organization, primarily at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Capable of playing center or wing, the 27-year-old left-hander appeared in 25 NHL games for the Penguins and scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) while primarily playing on either the third or fourth lines during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
Late in the 2022 training camp, Zohorna was waived in hopes of assigning him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but he was claimed by the Calgary Flames on Oct. 3.
Primarily spending most of the 2022-23 season with the Calgary Wranglers, the Flames’ AHL affiliate, Zohorna was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 3. His only NHL goal of the campaign came with the Maple Leafs during a 3-0 road win against the Ottawa Senators April 1.
In total, Zohorna played in 10 NHL contests last season between the Flames and Maple Leafs, scoring one goal. At the AHL level in 2022-23, Zohorna played in 53 contests and scored 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists).
Additionally, the Penguins signed veteran forward Marc Johnstone and goaltender Magnus Hellberg to round out their AHL rosters.
Johnstone, 27, agreed to a two-year, two-way contract that carries a salary cap hit of $775,000.
A native of Cranford, N.J., Johnstone spent entire the 2022-23 season with the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate. Appearing in 69 games last season, the right-hander scored 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists).
Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas brought Zohorna and Johnstone to the Maple Leafs organization during his previous capacity as that franchise’s general manager.
Hellberg, 32, signed a one-year deal (also believed to be a two-way contract) that carries a salary cap hit of $785,000.
During the 2022-23 season, Hellberg (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) bounced around three organizations, the Senators, Seattle Kraken and Detroit Red Wings, appearing in 18 NHL contests and posting a 5-8-1 record, a 3.20 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage.
At the AHL level, the left-catching Hellberg, a native of Sweden, played in four games last season and had a 2-2-0 record, a 2.50 goals-against averaged and a .932 save percentage.