To highlight another busy week of transfers involving CHL clubs, Tomas Netik returns home to Sparta Prague while Neman Grodno, the Braehead Clan, Geneve-Servette and Storhamar Hockey all made key additions to strengthen their squads. 

CHL News

Another busy Monday capped off another week of transfers in the world of European hockey, and once again clubs that are destined to play in the upcoming season's Champions Hockey League were adding pieces to their teams.

One of the biggest deals on Monday involves a homecoming of sorts, as 33-year-old winger Tomas Netik is returning to the club of his youth, Sparta Prague, after spending the past five seasons in the KHL. Netik was a member of the Sparta team that won back-to-back Czech titles in 2005–06 and 2006–07 but the club hasn't won since.

“When you're younger, you think you'll always win. When you get older, you start to recognize that it doesn't always happen that way,” Netik said in an interview on Sparta's website. “The older players always said that. When you're young you think it's normal to win the title every two or three years, but now I see that Sparta haven't won since 2007, and haven't even been in the final, and I realize how rare it is.”

Another team importing a player from the KHL is Neman Grodno, who have acquired Ilya Kaznadei from Dinamo Minsk. The 25-year-old defenceman played for Belarus at the 2013 World Championship.

After the British-champion Sheffield Steelers added pieces to their roster last week, including taking one of their own players, the second-placed Braehead Clan got busy this past week, landing a couple of new players. One of them is 31-year-old centreman Alex Leavitt. A Canadian who played his junior hockey in Swift Current and Everett before playing in the ECHL and AHL, Leavitt came to Europe in 2008 and has played in the DEL, Liiga and EBEL, among other leagues.

“It was a thing that really drew me to Braehead that they would be in a Champions League. It's one of the biggest hockey tournaments in the world now,” Leavitt said in an interview with the Glasgow Evening Times. “It will be great but we must start early and get some practice against some tough teams. It will be a great experience for the guys. We will want to get up to speed quickly.”

“He's a guy that will provide offence and he’s done it with every team he’s played for,” Braehead head coach Ryan Finnerty said about Leavitt. “He’ll be a go-to guy, plus he’s older and gives that bit more experience as well. I’m excited to get him and he’s excited to be coming to Braehead. Alex is another piece of the puzzle we needed and can play in the centre or in the wing and we may utilise him in both positions.”

Swiss club Geneve-Servette is known for attracting top-end talent and they did that again this past week, signing veteran defenceman Johan Fransson. The Lulea product has represented Sweden in two World Championships, winning the gold medal on home ice in 2013, and will now be starting his second season in the Swiss NLA.

“I played a few games last season against Geneve-Servette with Rapperswil, and they were our toughest opponent,” Fransson was quoted in an official announcement by his new club. “The impression I had was that Geneve is a good team and good organization. I am therefore delighted to join and get acquainted with the players and fans. Chris McSorley knows me and I know what he expects of me for the coming seasons. For my part, I just want to help the team the best of my qualities, playing good hockey and help the club win titles.”

Norwegian finalists Storhamar Hockey added a couple of forwards on the weekend from the rosters of fellow CHL qualifiers – Martin Huse from the Stavanger Oilers, who edged Storhamar out in the regular season and the playoffs, and Hampus Gustavsson from Grenoble.

“We are very pleased to have Martin,” Storhamar sports director Sjur Rakstad Larsen said of Huse. “We're focusing on diversity in the squad and it's always nice that our self-produced players come back and want to play for the club. Martin is a very good player, who will primarily give us a lot of quality defensive play.”

Huse played for Stavanger in last year's CHL. Another player on the move who played in the CHL and will have another chance with a different team is former New York Islander Rhett Rakhshani, who's moving within Sweden from the champion Vaxjo Lakers to Linkoping HC. As well, Marius Gohringer, who played two CHL games with Villach SV last season, joins Black Wings Linz.

Following is a complete list of transfers from the past week involving CHL clubs.