EuroVision: Ondrej Pavelec won’t re-sign

EuroVision: Highlights, notes, tweets and photos from across the pond – where the lockout doesn’t quite translate

You wouldn’t think losing an NHL starting goaltender would benefit a European pro club, but perhaps Ondrej Pavelec’s leaving Liberec is best for everyone involved.

The Winnipeg Jets goalie’s overseas contract expired before the break for international play and will not be renewed.

“I had a contract to Nov. 4, and now that I saw that the NHL season could be saved, I think I’ll probably go back to Canada,” Pavelec told iSport.cz (translated). He said he also felt bad about taking up a roster spot that could be used to sign another goaltender.

But what if the NHL season is cancelled altogether? Would Pavelec then consider a move to the KHL?

“The influx of players to Europe then is likely to be huge,” Pavelec told the site, not ruling out a move to Spartak. “I’ll sit down with an agent and see how to deal with my situation then.”

Pavelec put up disappointing numbers for the Czech Elite League team, but – good news, Jets fans – stood on his head while representing his country last week.

New York Rangers forward Derek Stepan announced his own signing via Twitter over the weekend, regardless of the CBA talks taking place just blocks from his home rink.

Stepan, the first Ranger to head to the Finnish Elite League, is the fourth player on the team to jump ship. That said, Carl Hagelin has returned from his stint in Sweden with an injury. Also on KalPa is former NHLer Sami Kapanen:

A young Washington Capitals forward is day-to-day in Sweden’s second-tier league:

Not sure what’s more entertaining, Paul Bissonnette backpacking through Europe or surfer dude Joffrey Lupul adapting in life Russia…

Patrick Kane is for the children:

Matt Read found out there’s no such thing as “country and eastern”:

And at least one NHL star is missing those chartered flights:

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