Recent Penguins Defenseman Leaves the NHL and Signs in New League

Former Pittsburgh Penguins defender Filip Kral has signed with HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga (ELH), returning to his homeland of Czechia.

The team announced the move in a release on Tuesday. Kral, 25, developed through Kometa Brno's youth ranks and had played for the team before making the move to North America to continue his career.

Kral joined the Penguins in the 2024 offseason as an unrestricted free agent on a one-year, two-way contract that paid him $775,000.

He spent most of the 2024-25 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, their AHL affiliate, and recorded 29 points (seven goals and 22 assists) in 61 games.

He was momentarily summoned to the NHL lineup on April 14 but did not appear in a game. After serving time as a healthy scratch, he was reassigned to the AHL on April 18. Kral will once again become an NHL unrestricted free agent on July 1.

The Penguins have a busy offseason in front of them with a number of pending free agents.

Unrestricted free agents are forwards Boko Imama, Jimmy Huntington, Marc Johnstone, Joona Koppanen, Mathias Laferriere, and Matt Nieto, as well as defensemen Matt Grzelcyk and Filip Kral.

Their restricted free agents include forwards Raivis Ansons, Emil Bemstrom, Connor Dewar, Vasily Ponomarev, and Philip Tomasino. On defense, Nathan Clurman, Mac Hollowell, P.O. Joseph, Colton Poolman, and Conor Timmins are due for new deals.

Goaltender Taylor Gauthier is also a pending restricted free agent. Kyle Dubas has an extremely busy summer ahead with multiple decisions to make.