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Stepan signs with KalPa in Finland

New Jersey Devils v New York Rangers - Game Two

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 16: Derek Stepan #21 of the New York Rangers celebrates a second period goal by teammate Marc Staal #18 in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final against the New Jersey Devils during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 16, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Rangers forward Derek Stepan apparently isn’t eager to see how labor talks turn out today.

Courtesy of Twitter, Stepan announced he’s off to Finland to play in the SM-liiga for KalPa.

Derek Stepan Tweet

Stepan is the third Rangers player to head to Europe and the first in Finland. Rick Nash is with Davos in Switzerland, Ryan McDonagh is with Barys Astana in the KHL. Meanwhile Carl Hagelin was with Södertälje in Sweden until he hurt his shoulder and returned to New York.

KalPa doesn’t have a lot of familiar former NHL talent there, but he will get to help set up former Flyers and Hurricanes forward Sami Kapanen.

Is this a sign that negotiations are going poorly since Stepan waited until now to head abroad? Not exactly. He may be just looking to play in some actual games to be ready when/if the lockout ends.