Once-hyped Red Wings prospect just became a star in Switzerland

Although Austin Czarnik may not have left an indelible mark on the NHL, he continues to garner attention on the international stage.

Czarnik, who appeared in 63 games for the Detroit Red Wings across the 2022–23 and 2023–24 NHL seasons, was recently honored as the Most Valuable Player of the Swiss National League—the premier professional ice hockey league in Switzerland.

Skating under the banner of SC Bern, Czarnik amassed an impressive 20 goals and 36 assists over 49 games—leading his club in both categories and cementing his status as the team's foremost offensive catalyst.

However, if Czarnik intends to celebrate his MVP honors with proverbial cake, it will be a solitary affair. He has since parted ways with SC Bern, having signed a contract with Lausanne HC for the upcoming 2025–26 season.

Czarnik had some promise at the collegiate level. Czarnik served as team captain in both his junior and senior seasons at Miami University (Ohio), and was a finalist for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award, the honor given to given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player, in 2013.

No member of the Red Wings has ever won the Hobey Baker Award, but Czarnik was close to breaking the curse.

Overall, Czarnik played 205 NHL games for five teams with his best campaign coming in 2018-2019 as a member of the Calgary Flames. He posted 18 points (six goals, 12 assists).

Czarnik, a Detroit native, joined the Red Wings for the final two seasons of his NHL career

In 63 games played, Czarnik only scored six points (three goals, three assists). Although his NHL tenure fell short of distinction, Czarnik appears to have found both form and fulfillment in Switzerland, where he is now intent on cultivating a lasting legacy rather than pursuing another fleeting NHL opportunity—one likely to relegate him to limited ice time.

His transition to the Swiss National League was less a concession than a calculated, strategic pivot: a move designed to maximize his on-ice influence, refine his craft, and embrace a more balanced, family-oriented lifestyle.

At Lausanne HC, he will not only be entrusted with significant minutes but also expected to serve as a cornerstone of leadership as the club aspires to elevate its competitive stature.