Nicholas Baptiste Joins Dukla Trenčín
Nicholas Baptiste, a 30-year-old center from Canada, has officially joined Dukla Trenčín after signing a one-year contract, as revealed by the Slovak club on Friday. The team, currently positioned sixth in the 12-team Slovak Liga with a record of 25 goals over 10 games, has felt the need to enhance its offensive performance.
General Manager’s Statement
General Manager Mário Bližňák, a former NHL player himself, acknowledged this necessity in a statement, indicating that Baptiste is seen as a key addition to boost their scoring efforts.
Bližňák stated, “We need to significantly increase our offensive output – this is one of the steps,” emphasizing the importance of addressing their scoring challenges.
According to him, Baptiste’s experience from higher leagues positions him as a potential offensive leader for the team.
“He is at the ideal hockey age and brings a strong work ethic, which are exactly the qualities we anticipate from him,” Bližňák added.
Baptiste’s Career Background
Originally from Ottawa, Baptiste developed his skills in junior hockey with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves and Erie Otters before being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft as the 69th overall pick. Over two years, he played 47 NHL games for the Sabres, achieving 10 points and accruing 20 penalty minutes.
His professional journey subsequently took him to European leagues, where he has played in Finland for Ilves and Tappara Tampere, Germany for Kölner Haie and Augsburger Panther, and had a brief stint in the KHL with Vityaz Moscow Oblast. Additionally, Baptiste is a gold medalist, having competed with the Canadian national team at the 2013 IIHF U-18 World Championship.
Other Signings
Meanwhile, Swedish defenseman Lawrence Pilut, who sat out the entire 2024-25 season, is anticipated to sign with Rapperswil-Jona Lakers in Switzerland’s National League after a summer of training, according to reports from Swedish media.
In another signing news, American forward Danny O’Regan, 31, has inked a one-year deal with the Schwenninger Wild Wings in Germany’s DEL league, which was announced on Sunday.
