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Report: Kontiola joins KHL club Lokomotiv

Ice Hockey - Winter Olympics Day 14 - Sweden v Finland

SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 21: Petri Kontiola #27 of Finland looks on after losing to Sweden 2-1 during the Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinal Playoff on Day 14 of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 21, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

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After spending roughly $500,000 to buy himself out of his contract in the KHL during the summer, forward Petri Kontiola is headed back to the Russian league according to a report.

Kontiola signed a one-year $1.1 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer.

However, Kontiola struggled at Leafs camp and was sent to the American Hockey League.

“We felt that he had a good start to camp,” said Leafs coach Randy Carlyle at the time of Kontiola’s assignment. “But once the pace of the camp, and the exhibition games got up there, that he wasn’t up to speed.”

While with the AHL’s Marlies, Kontiola joked, “I’ve got to make that money at some point” when asked if he had any regrets buying himself out of his KHL deal.

Kontiola, 30, was held pointless in 11 AHL games to go along with a minus-4 rating.

Last week the native of Seinajoki, Finland was placed on waivers by the Leafs with the purpose of terminating his contract.

Originally a Chicago Blackhawks seventh-round pick (196th overall) in 2004, Kontiola has appeared in 12 career NHL games all with the Blackhawks registering five assists.

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