Paul Bittner has signed to play professional hockey in Sweden. He has signed with Vasby IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan league. The second-highest league in Sweden and one of the top leagues in Europe.
Paul played the last four years with the Columbus Blue Jackets AHL team, the Cleveland Monsters, and his contract was up at the end of last season. The end of Paul’s first professional contract couldn’t have come at a worse time as COVID-19 hit canceling the end of the AHL season last spring and leaving all the free agents in flux as the NHL/AHL teams didn’t talk to free agents until after the NHL season was done this summer. “We were waiting for the AHL to start and see if there was something that could be worked out with an NHL or AHL club,” said Bittner. “It didn’t work out this year. A lot of guys like myself are finding their way overseas.”
Bittner played in 190 games for the Cleveland Monsters (from 2015 where he played in two games at the end of the season to 2020) and scored 25 goals while recording 43 assists. He was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the 38th pick of the 2015 NHL draft.
Bittner is leaving for Sweden today (Tuesday) and he will play in the final 16 games before relegation starts and he is excited for a chance to prove himself. “If I play well enough, it could lead to an AHL contract and possibly link up with a team,” said Bittner. “The league is so well respected among the hockey world so it’s a very good opportunity, not only to play in Sweden but also in Europe and it could open opportunities for me in the top leagues in Europe.”
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