The rebuilding of the Montreal Canadiens will proceed without forward Alexander Perezhogin, who has signed a contract with a team in his native Russia.
The player's North American agent, Don Meehan, told the Montreal Gazette late Monday that Perezhogin has signed a contract with Salavat Yulayev Ufa in the Russian Super League.
Meehan said that Perezhogin will earn nearly three times his NHL salary for last season, which was $627,000 US.
Perezhogin had six goals and nine assists in 61 games for the Canadiens, his second season in the league.
The 23-year-old gained notoriety when he was suspended for the entire 2004-05 American Hockey League season after striking an opposing player in the head with his stick.
