Czech forward Martin Frk signs with KHL's Shanghai Dragons

Czech forward Martin Frk, who spent 15 of the last 16 years playing in North America—including 125 NHL games and nearly 600 AHL contests—has signed a contract with the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) club Shanghai Dragons. The agreement provides a net annual salary of 55 million rubles (about 15 million Czech korunas) plus performance bonuses.

The Shanghai Dragons, a Chinese‑based franchise, continue to host their home games in St. Petersburg, Russia, because the team lacks suitable facilities in Shanghai. Frk joins fellow Czech winger Dmitrij Jaškin, who arrived a week earlier. Upon landing at St. Petersburg airport, Frk said he was “very happy to finally be here” and looked forward to exploring the city with his family, which will join him later.

The move highlights the KHL’s ongoing ability to attract established North‑American players with lucrative offers despite the league’s ties to Russian clubs and the broader geopolitical backdrop of the Russia‑Ukraine conflict.