Mike Zalewski signs in Germany

Mike Zalewski has signed with the Straubing Tigers in the DEL today. His brother, Steve, will also play for the Tigers next season.

The Canucks did not qualify Zalewski at the conclusion of the season, thus he was a UFA.

The Canucks had signed Zalewski out of the NCAA near the end of the 2013-14 season. He appeared in 2 games to close out the season, burning a year of the two-year ELC. He then played the 2014-15 season in the AHL, and failed to impress enough to earn another contract. The Canucks did not qualify him, and he became a UFA. He signed a contract with the Comets, hoping to earn himself another NHL contract.

He impressed enough that the Canucks signed him in December 2015 to a one-year pact and then qualified him at the conclusion of the season. He signed a one year deal worth $632,500 at the NHL level for the 2016-17 season but failed to take that next step.

With Zalewski being unable to take that next step and the Canucks adding an influx of young talent via trade and the draft, Zalewski quickly fell down the depth chart.

He should be able to carve out a good professional career in Europe.