Radim Zohorna
Photo: AP
Position: Left winger
Shoots: Left
Age: 28
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 220 pounds
2023-24 NHL statistics: 33 games, seven points (four goals, three assists), 9:45 of average ice time per game
2023-24 AHL statistics: 30 games, 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists)
2023-24 AHL postseason statistics: Two games, two points (two goals, zero assists)
Contract: Signed to a one-year two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000. Pending unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason
Acquired: Unrestricted free agent signing, July 2, 2024
Last season: Radim Zohorna clearly likes being with the Penguins. After all, he has signed three contracts with the team (and with three different general managers/presidents in Jim Rutherford, Ron Hextall and Kyle Dubas).
He was so smitten by the Penguins, he even opted to re-sign with the team last summer after Hextall waived him in October of 2022 and allowed him to be claimed by the Calgary Flames.
“I love this team, this organization,” Zohorna said during training camp in September of 2023. “I’m happy to be part of this.”
Things looked really positive for Zohorna after a strong preseason in which he stood out with three points (one goal, two assists) in four games. Yet, despite that production, he was waived (again) but cleared this time and was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Oct. 9 to open the season.
That assignment didn’t last long as he was recalled Oct. 20 and placed on the right wing of the third line with Lars Eller at center and Drew O’Connor at the left wing. He was fairly productive in that station, offering five points (three goals, two assists) in his first nine NHL games of the season.
Things began to dissipate, however, by mid-November. From Nov. 14 to Jan. 15, Zohorna could only muster two points (one goal, one assist) in 22 games (and was a healthy scratch on seven occasions during that stretch).
After going through waivers again Jan. 16, he cleared and was sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the next day.
Typically inhabiting a top-six role — and occasionally as a center — Zohorna rediscovered the scoring touch he had previously displayed at the AHL level as he posted 27 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 27 games between Jan. 20 and April 7.
A personal milestone was reached during a 5-2 road win against the Cleveland Monsters on March 18 when Zohorna recorded his first professional hat trick.
Zohorna was recalled again April 10 and appeared in two contests (in which he took a penalty and contributed no offense) then was scratched for the Penguins’ final two games of the regular season.
After being returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on April 18, he collected two goals in two postseason games.
The future: It sure doesn’t look like Zohorna will be getting a fourth contract from the Penguins after a mostly underwhelming season at the NHL level.
On the surface, there’s plenty to like about Zohorna. He’s one of the biggest bodies on the team and has shown off plenty of skill. At the same time, he doesn’t play all that physically and his contributions with the puck can be few and far between, at least when he’s playing NHL games.
Even when he was generating steady offense with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this past season, he never seemed like a realistic option for a recall as the NHL roster dealt with significant injuries among the forward ranks in February and March. Then when he was finally recalled in April, he offered relatively little of note.
As much as Zohorna might still enjoy being with the Penguins, it looks like this is the end for him here.
