Defenseman Teemu Laakso has signed for KHL team Severstal Cherepovets after four years with the NHL’s Nashville Predators, Severstal said Sunday.

Laakso, a third-round draft pick for Nashville in 2005, played 17 games for the Predators and 217 for their AFL affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals.

“The Finnish defenseman Teemu Laakso has signed a two-year contract with the club from Cherepovets,” Severstal said on its website.

Laakso was the top goalscorer among defensemen while representing Finland at the 2004 under-18 world championship and 2006 under-20 world championship, but has never made the leap to the senior team.