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Kris Versteeg headlines wave of players leaving NHL, going overseas

San Jose Sharks v Los Angeles Kings - Game Five

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 22: Kris Versteeg #10 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal to tie the score 3-3 against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of Game Five of the Western Conference First Round in the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 22, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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Some will remember him for the goals. Others will cherish the two Stanley Cups he won with the Chicago Blackhawks. Maybe there’s some company in grinning at memories of his funny hair.

However you think of Kris Versteeg, it sounds like you won’t see him as an NHL player in 2015-16.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that Versteeg is expected to sign with Bern of the Swiss League this weekend:

Versteeg is the biggest of three names slated to play overseas instead of the NHL.

Andre Benoit is going to play for Malmo in Sweden while Versteeg’s former Blackhawks teammate Kyle Cumiskey is also Sweden-bound, as he got a gig with AIK.

These players have seen better days, whether a free agent squeeze made a difference or not. It’s often a little sad to see them go, even if it makes sense (especially with a struggling player like Cumiskey).

It’s especially sad to see Versteeg leave, and not just because he seemed to have the most left in the tank: