There are many players since the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement on September 15th who have headed to Europe. For Nikolai Kulemin, it was a chance to play for his hometown club in Magnitogorsk again. For a star like Alexander Ovechkin, it is a chance to make close to his NHL salary and reinforce his reputation as Mother Russia’s best player. For many veteran players like Joe Thornton or Daniel Briere, playing halfway across the world for a salary that barely covers the cost of their insurance is worth the inconvenience simply because they have to stay active to keep their skills sharp in the latter part of their career.
For Joffrey Lupul, playing for the worst KHL team is worth it when you consider that staying dormant in North America for the duration of the lockout could cost him millions of dollars as he becomes an unrestricted free agent next July.
For Leo Komarov, the announcement of his return to the KHL is something different. It is a tacit admission that he does not think there is going to be an NHL season.
The 25 year old feisty winger had started to play with the Marlies at the level of effectiveness that Leafs GM Brian Burke hoped for when he signed with the Leafs last July, as he is tied for the club lead with five goals, but the primary reason that he signed with the team that drafted him back in 2006 is because he wanted the challenge of playing in the NHL.
The lack of progress between the owners and Players Association has escalated to another level tonight, as reports have surfaced that the owners will cease negotiations for two weeks. Fans, players, management and owners know full well that fall is dwindling away and winter is fast approaching. This is simply a tactic to apply more pressure and raise the level of frustration on the player's side, but it means that starting the season December 1 is gone and the target now moves to Christmas for a potential start.
It is impossible for Komarov to have known of this latest gambit on the collective bargaining chess board, and his decision to go back to the KHL can be reversed if a deal is ever struck, but he would only be taking this step if he thought that the odds were tilting towards no season being played.
*******
Here is some highlights of Joffrey Lupul's first game with KHL's Avtomobilist:
*******
The Toronto Marlies finish up their eight game road trip tonight in the same place it started three weeks ago, at Copps Coliseum as they face the Hamilton Bulldogs for the fourth time this season. Toronto so far is 2-1 against their closest geographic rival, with a 4-1 loss in Hamilton on October 19 and a 5-0 shutout at Ricoh Coliseum the next night, followed by a a 5-4 victory at Copps six days later.
Tonight begins a string of three games in three days for the Marlies, as they again face the Bulldogs at the Ricoh Saturday at 3pm and then take on Abbotsford at 3pm Sunday.
Follow me on Twitter tonight for updates throughout the game.
If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»