San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski has signed a lockout contract to play in the KHL with Dynamo Minsk of Belarus, the league's website said Wednesday.
Pavelski recorded 61 points in 87 games for the Sharks last year and joins a KHL team already boasting two NHL exiles in Winnipeg Jets left wing Evander Kane and Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne.
Pavelski was on the United States' silver-winning team at the 2010 Vancouver Games. He is the second American to come to the KHL for the lockout after New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who teamed up with Barys Astana in Kazakhstan.
Pavelski could make his debut later Wednesday against Vityaz Chekhov.
Dynamo Minsk languishes in 13th place in the Western Conference with just six wins in 16 games.
