Kozlov Reportedly Heading Home

Another veteran Russian player has decided to finish his playing career back home, as reports are surfacing (here) that Slava Kozlov will decide on a KHL team to sign with in the coming weeks, instead of signing with an NHL team this season.

Kozlov, a veteran of 18 NHL seasons and 1,182 games with the Red Wings, Sabres and Thrashers, will likely call it an NHL career with this move at the age of 38, after scoring 356 goals and 497 assists in a solid career.  Kozlov also has a pair of Stanley Cup rings with the Red Wings from 1997 and 1998.

In 2010, Kozlov finished 330th in pool scoring with 8 goals and 18 assists in 55 games with the Thrashers, good enough to be ranked 229th among forwards, which is on the outside looking in for being drafted this year.  He has been a pretty good fantasy player in his career, but his departure now opens up another spot for someone young in the league and in the pools to make a name for himself.