Radek Smolenak jumps ship to KHL

It is reported by Czech website hokej.cz via Lightning Strikes that Radek Smolenak has signed with Niznekamsk of the KHL.

Smolenak only played 6 games with the Lightning last season and 71 in the AHL with Norfolk. He was a 3rd round draft pick from 2005 and was at the end of his 3 year rookie contract.

He is a winger, so it's not like we don't have a few of those to spare, but it sucks to see an RFA jump ship to the KHL. It is considered to be free agent season in the KHL right now, and they seem to be throwing more money at players than their NHL clubs will, so can you really blame him? But on the flip side, I hope that the NHL/KHL and IIHF come to an agreement of poaching players under contract from the NHL, this is starting to get pretty ridiculous. The signing has clearly not been confirmed by the Lightning yet.