ZSC Lions sign Klein and Červenka, Pestoni is free to leave

The ZSC Lions confirm that they have signed Kevin Klein and Roman Červenka to one-year contracts. Inti Pestoni, on the other hand, has to leave the club.

As the Aargauer Zeitung reported earlier today, ZSC's team manager Sven Leuenberger was indeed able to convince Canadian defenseman Kevin Klein (photo) to add another season to his career and stay with the Lions. The 33-year-old has signed a one-year contract extension with the Swiss champion.

Moreover, the ZSC Lions have signed 32-year-old forward Roman Červenka. Just like Klein, the Czech forward, who most recently played for HC Fribourg-Gottéron, has signed a one-year deal in Zurich. With Gottéron, he appeared in a total of 92 games in the National League and put up 107 points (35 goals, 71 assists).

ZSC will thus start with five import-players into the new season: defensemen Kevin Klein and Maxim Noreau, who joins the Lions from SC Bern, as well as forwards Fredrik Pettersson, Drew Shore, and Roman Červenka.

While Klein and Červenka will spend the upcoming season in Zurich, forward Inti Pestoni will most likely not - in spite of a valid contract. According to a report from the Tages-Anzeiger, the 26-year-old is free to leave the club. If he does not find a new team for the upcoming season he will probably have to suit up for the GCK Lions in the Swiss League.

Sven Leuenberger confirms to the Ticinonews that Pestoni can either train with the GCK Lions over the summer or they will try to buy him out of his contract. Those options were presented to Pestoni's agent, Leuenberger states. Also, according to Kaus Zaugg (Watson), the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers might have the best chance to gain Pestoni for the upcoming season.

Hey Fans, Kevin #Klein hat eine Mitteilung für Euch 💪🏻🦁😍 pic.twitter.com/R4swoRp8vw — ZSC Lions (@zsclions) May 23, 2018