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Scott Hartnell to play in Finland

Scott Hartnell will play for KalPa during the NHL lockout, a Finnish team of which he is a partial owner.

Paul Bereswill

Philadelphia Flyers left winger Scott Hartnell will play for a Finnish team he owns as the NHL and NHLPA are still unable to reach a deal to end the lockout.

Hartnell became a part-owner of the team, KalPa, alongside teammate Kimmo Timonen and former Flyer Sami Kapanen, several years ago. He hasn't been involved in the day-to-day operation of the club, which is based in Kuopio, Finland, but owns five percent of the team as a business venture. Although he had held off heading to Europe in hopes the lockout will be resolved, the 30-year-old has now finalized insurance plans in case he gets injured with the Finnish team and will begin play Nov. 15. Craig Smith of the Predators already plays for KalPa, as does the 39-year-old Kapanen, who is the team's majority owner, GM, and captain.

Hartnell has played with the Flyers since 2007, registering a career-high 37 goals this past season. The Canadian-born player is no stranger to Scandanavia, having won a Norwegian league championship while playing with Valerenga during the 2004-2005 lockout. Like every player signed in Europe during the lockout, he will return to the NHL should the two sides reach an agreement.