The Madrid Royals made a strong move Sunday, spending $11.3 million to sign free agents Jakob Silfverberg and Nick Bjugstad. Silfverberg, a RW who is now 32, spent his whole career in Dublin. He is a good skater, a four-time 20-goal scorer and he is coming off his career-best point total of 56. Bjugstad, a center, brings a 6-6 frame to the Royals. The last five years of his 9-year career were spent with the Guerriero, who zoomed up the standings last season. Bjugstad was a second- and third-liner the last few seasons in Milan. He got over the 20-goal hump once and his best points season was Season 9, when he scored 67.
Fans in Geneva couldn’t be happier with new General Manager Dave Franck after he persuaded Roman Josi to join the Generals after 9 seasons in Prague. He was born in Bern, but that is Swiss enough for Genevans. The 32-year-old has no holes in his game and is capable of scoring more than 30 points, like he did the last two seasons. He came with a $5.8 million price tag.
Other signings:
Although they didn’t use him much last season, London, convinced accomplished penalty killer Casey Cizikas to re-up and he signed a $3.4 million, long-term deal.
American defenseman Derek Forbort has good size and above-average potential, but he has had trouble finding work in the EURO League. He didn’t played a game the last two seasons. His lone season in the league came in Season 9 with Zurich, when he played 71 games, scored 19 points and was a +1 blueliner. Athens had him last year and the Gods will give him another look after signing him to a $2.4 million deal.
Zurich claimed one Swedish defenseman off waivers and then promptly waived another. Rasmus Andersson joins the squad, while Robert Hagg was jettisoned. The Lions also signed undrafted rookie Andrew Mangiapane, a left wing.
Moscow claimed waived defenseman Troy Stecher, a Canadian who has been in the Geneva system the last two years. He has a good chance of starting for the Maniacs. They had earlier resigned 27-year-old defenseman Jakub Krejcik who was second on the team last season in ice time.
Bern resigned defenseman Darnell Nurse, a starter there for the last 3 years, for $3.4 million over two years and a player option.
