Jason Chimera agreed to a deal with HC Chomutov in the Czech Republic, becoming one of the latest players to leave for Europe amid the NHL lockout.
His agent, Allan Walsh, announced the move on Twitter. It’s a month-to-month deal with an out-clause to return to North American when the lockout ends.
The Washington Capitals left wing figured to be one of the final players to leave the area. With kids in school, he said before the lockout started that he was sticking around for some time.
It’s uncertain how the latest developments in collective bargaining talks affected Chimera’s decision. The league and NHL Players’ Association have no meetings scheduled, with the very real possibility of December games being canceled soon. Chimera was en route to Europe when Walsh made his agreeing to terms public.
Chimera played in Italy during the 2004-05 lockout, after hanging around waiting for something to happen.
“It was real easy to go then because I had no kids. I wasn’t married at the time either so it was just easy with my wife who was just girlfriend at time, so we just kind of packed up and moved,” Chimera said in September. “It was just the two of us so it was easy and it was neat to see different stops but I remember the feeling last time when the season got cancelled, I think it was probably one of the worst days.”
