The Minnesota Wild goalie was coming off ankle surgery, and decided to get back to work quickly by signing with Dynamo Minsk, a KHL team based in Belarus.

The Philadelphia Flyers winger skated for Lev Praha, a KHL team in the Czech Republic.

The Ottawa Senators center was coming off one of the best seasons of his career. But during the lockout, he played for Rapperswil-Jona of the Swiss Elite League.

In June, the New Jersey Devils winger was contending for the Cup. During the lockout, he signed on with Donbass Donetsk of the KHL.

The Buffalo Sabres defenseman was back in Germany, playing for his hometown team, the Krefeld Penguins.

The Colorado Avalanche goalie joined Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, the KHL team that was struck by tragedy last season when the team's plane crashed.

While the two-time Stanley Cup champ's return to the Philadelphia Flyers was on hold, he went to his native Ukraine to play with the KHL team in Donetsk.

The Carolina Hurricanes left wing headed back to Finland to play for Oulu Karpat, the team he played for before going to the NHL.

The long-time Detroit Red Wing was signed by the Calgary Flames in the offseason. He then joined the KHL's Lev Praha, a team in his native Czech Republic.

The Montreal Canadiens star played for his hometown team, HC Kladno of the Czech Extraliga.

The defenseman was shipped from the Anaheim Ducks to the New York Islanders in the offseason. His next stop was with Slovan Bratislava, a KHL team.

The Ottawa Senators defenseman, who won the Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009, was one of the first players to sign with the KHL. He played for Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

The Devils' leading scorer in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs played for SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.

The San Jose Sharks captain played with Davos in Switzerland, a team he also played for during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

The Detroit Red Wings' Finnish star headed home to play for Jokerit.

Say hello to your boss! Jagr played for the team he owns, HC Klado of the Czech Extraliga, while waiting to join his new NHL team, the Dallas Stars.

The Los Angeles Kings center played for second-tier Swedish team Mora IK with his younger brother, Gasper.

The two-time NHL MVP for the Washington Capitals went back to his native Russia to play with his former team, Dynamo Moscow of the KHL.

The Pittsburgh Penguins star, and last year's Hart Trophy winner, took his talents to Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL.

Nash was playing for Davos of the Swiss Elite League before returning back to New York with a nagging groin injury. He's waiting to make his debut with the Rangers.

The first-round pick by the San Jose Sharks in the 2007 draft skated for Geneva-Servette of the Swiss Elite League.

The young, talented Boston Bruins center played in the Swiss Elite League with EHC Biel.

The former first-rounder for the Edmonton Oilers went back to his roots to play for Pardubice of the Czech League.

Ennis signed a two-year extension with the Buffalo Sabres right before the lockout, but his next stop was with SC Langnau of the Swiss Elite League.

The Winnipeg Jets' No. 1 goalie found a new home between the pipes with Bili Tygri Liberec of the Czech Extraliga.

The Montreal Canadiens defenseman who won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Boston Bruins played for Kladno in the Czech Extraliga.

The quirky Philadelphia Flyers netminder joined Pavel Datsyuk at CSKA Moscow.

The Red Wings' star center went back to Russia to play in the KHL with CSKA Moscow.

While the former Philadelphia Flyer's new job with the Columbus Blue Jackets was put on hold, he kept busy by playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.

The Bruins' No. 1 goalie played for HC Plzen of the Czech League before returning back to Boston at the end of November.

The former Phoenix Coyotes defenseman was hoping for a fresh start with the Chicago Blackhawks. Instead, he played for HC Plzen of the Czech League.

The Nashville Predators netminder, and Vezina Trophy finalist for the past two NHL seasons, played in the KHL for Dinamo Minsk.

The Philadelphia Flyers winger had a breakout season in 2011-2012. During the lockout he played for Eispiraten Crimmitschau in the tier-2 German League.

The former Capitals star was supposed to be starting the season with the Carolina Hurricanes. Instead, he was in the KHL skating for Sokol Krasnoyarsk.

The 2012 Norris Trophy winner played in Finland with Jokerit of SM-liiga.

The New York Rangers winger headed home to Sweden to play for Sodertalje of the Swedish League.

The Winnipeg Jets' leading goal scorer from a year ago was in the KHL playing for Dinamo Minsk, but the forward and the team parted ways in late November.

The New York Islanders' leading scorer headed to Switzerland to play in the Swiss Elite League for Bern.

It was quite the summer for Landeskog. First, he won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year. Then, he was named Colorado's captain. Then, he went home to play in the Swedish Elite League for Djurgarden.

The Philadelphia Flyers' star center played in Berlin in the German Elite League before suffering a neck injury.

The Boston Bruins center made a new home with HC Lugano of the Swiss Elite League.

Instead of scoring clutch goals for the Philadelphia Flyers, Briere skated for Berlin of the German Elite League.

The Boston Bruins captain, and one of the best D-men in the league, played for Prague's team in the KHL.

One of the New York Rangers' top defenseman played for Barys Astana of the KHL.

The Colorado Avalanche center's 2011-2012 season was marred by injuries. Waiting during the lockout, he freshened up his game with Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League.

The second overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning took his blue-line talents to Barys Astana of the KHL.
 

The former Conn Smythe Trophy winner and Detroit Red Wings star played in the Swiss Elite League with EV Zug.

The Blackhawks winger who scored the game-winning Game 7 goal in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final played for Swiss club Biel.

The Los Angeles Kings captain and 2012 Stanley Cup winner headed to Zurich to keep his skills sharp playing in the Swiss League.

The Anaheim Ducks winger decided to play where there were some familiar faces. He joined forces with crosstown rival Anze Kopitar of the LA Kings at Mora IK in the Swedish League.

Schneider could very well be the Vancouver Canucks' starting goalie once the NHL season starts. To hone his skills, he played for Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss League.

NHL fans young and old watched as their favorite players fled for other leagues during the lockout. Find out where they went.