While it’s a bit early to look ahead to next year’s wave of international free agents, one player who is already believed to be getting some interest in North America is goaltender Stephane Charlin, suggests Philipp Rindlisbacher of the Berner Zeitung. The 23-year-old is coming off his best showing in Switzerland’s top division, posting a 2.81 GAA with a .919 SV% in 30 games for the SCL Tigers. Standing 6’3, he has the size that a lot of teams covet in their goaltenders so teams will be watching to see if he can improve on those numbers this season, the final year of his contract. If Charlin were to come to North America, he’d be capped at signing a one-year, entry-level agreement.
More international notes:
- Hurricanes prospect goaltender Jakub Vondras will have two places to play this coming season. HC Dynamo Pardubice announced that they’ve reached an agreement with Plzen of the Extraliga that will see the netminder split duties between Plzen and Dynamo’s B squad. The 20-year-old spent last season with OHL Sudbury, putting up a 3.79 GAA with a .861 SV% in 37 games but isn’t returning for his overage year. With this agreement, Vondras should have a chance to see at least some action at the top Czech level while ensuring that he won’t sit for extended stretches. Carolina has until June 1, 2026 to sign the netminder.
- Despite a decent showing last season with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, free agent Austin Rueschhoff has gone overseas; Karpat in Finland announced that they’ve signed the center to a one-year contract. The 26-year-old had been on NHL contracts from 2020-21 through 2022-23 before having to settle for a minor league deal last summer. Last season, Rueschoff had 15 goals and 13 assists in 67 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, setting career-bests in goals and points.