Radim Zohorna started Monday because the Pittsburgh Penguins’ third-line heart.
He will finish the day as a member of the Calgary Flames.
The energy forward was once claimed via the Flames an afternoon after the Penguins positioned him on waivers. This transaction brings Zohorna’s intriguing however in the end unfulfilled tenure with the Penguins to an finish after two seasons.
“They just put me on waivers,” Zohorna stated following Monday’s morning skate on the Penguins’ facility in Cranberry. “It means nothing right now. I just have to go the same way as I did (before) in camp. I’ll work hard and play the same way.”
Undrafted, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound local of Czechia was once signed as an unrestricted unfastened agent via the Penguins in April of 2020 and made his North American debut all through the 2020-21 season, basically taking part in for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
Capable of taking part in both heart or wing, the 26-year-old seemed in 17 NHL video games remaining season and scored six issues (two objectives, 4 assists) whilst averaging 10 mins, 20 seconds of ice time remaining season. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Zohorna performed in 29 video games and scored 12 issues (12 objectives, 9 assists).
In 3 video games this preseason, Zohorna had no issues, 3 pictures and 6 penalty mins.
“I didn’t have bad games,” Zohorna stated. “But I haven’t scored a goal, or I haven’t had a point. That’s a big thing for me, I think. I had a couple of chances or have a point. It’s not bad, not good.”
In the second one yr of a two-year contract that carries a wage cap hit of $750,000, the league minimal, Zohorna should transparent waivers so as to be assigned to a minor-league associate.
“We’re at the point where it’s all about hockey decisions right now, and we’re trying to field the very best team,” Penguins trainer Mike Sullivan stated following Monday’s morning skate. “And efficiency issues. I believe (Zohorna) has performed extraordinarily neatly all the way through the process this coaching camp.
“When you’re getting down the final roster spots, these decisions are very difficult.”
During Monday’s morning skate prematurely of a street preseason recreation in opposition to the Detroit Red Wings, Zohorna served because the Penguins’ third-line heart with incumbents Jeff Carter and Teddy Blueger absent on account of undisclosed accidents. It isn’t transparent how the Penguins would possibly alter their lineup for the competition within the wake of Zohorna’s departure.
Forwards Drake Caggiula, Alex Nylander, defenseman Xavier Ouellet and goaltender Dustin Tokarski cleared waivers and had been in a position to record to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Note: The Penguins’ regular-season recreation in opposition to the Red Wings on March 28 was once rescheduled for 7 p.m. Previously, it was once slated to get started at 7:30 p.m.
Seth Rorabaugh is a Tribune-Review personnel author. You can touch Seth via e mail at srorabaugh@triblive.com or by the use of Twitter .