Senators' Turris signs with Finnish league By BRUCE GARRIOCH, QMI Agency

Centre Kyle Turris has fit right in with the Senators since he was acquired last month from the Coyotes for defenceman David Rundblad. (QMI Agency/ERROL MCGIHON)

OTTAWA - Another one has bitten the dust.

The number of locked out Senators skaters in Kanata is going to be even smaller next week after centre Kyle Turris agreed to a deal with Oulun Karpat in the Finnish Elite League Saturday.

The 24-year-old Turris, who had been waiting to see what happened with negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement before heading overseas, will leave next week and is expected to make his debut Friday against IFK Helsinki.

“I’m excited to play,” said Turris in a press release announcing his signing on the club’s website. “We’re glad that things (worked out) quickly.”

Turris was signed because Karpat did have Carolina’s Jussi Jokinen under contract, but he has left the club and elected to return to North America. Oulun also has San Jose defenceman Jason Demers under contract.

While Ottawa teammate Erik Karlsson signed a monthly contract with Jokerit, Turris’ deal is different. He is committed to play with Karpat for the rest of the season unless the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association sign a new CBA.

“The timing is good,” said Karpat GM Harri Aho, who had Demers has a similar deal with the club.

bruce.garrioch@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @sungarrioch