Unrestricted free agent Mike Santorelli has reportedly signed with Geneve-Servette of the Swiss League today, according to Swiss radio host Patrick Andrey. Santorelli last played for the Anaheim Ducks, scoring 9G and 9A in 70 games last year before becoming a healthy scratch in the Ducks first round playoff loss.
The journeyman forward played for Nashville, Florida, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto, Nashville (again), and Anaheim. He peaked in his first full NHL season, amassing 20G and 21A for the Florida Panthers. Santorelli had a minor resurgence in his one-year deals with Vancouver and Toronto, but could never parlay that into consistent success. Most former NHLers who sign overseas negotiate out-clauses in their contracts that allow them to return to the NHL if they receive a deal. It is unclear right now if Santorelli has one, but given that he is only 30, a return to the NHL is still a possibility.
This is Santorelli’s second stint overseas. He played with Tingsryds AIF in Sweden’s second highest league during the 2012-13 lockout. Santorelli is the second player signing in Switzerland today as earlier Kris Versteeg signed with SC Bern. Geneve-Servette is no stranger to former NHLers—Taylor Pyatt, Alexander Picard, Matt D’Agostini, and Yannick Weber have all played for the Swiss club.