"There's one Carolina Hurricanes prospect who definitely won't be playing in the NHL next season.

Oskar Osala, a power forward who played this past season for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL, confirmed Wednesday via Twitter that he would be playing for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the KHL in Russia next season. The 6-4, 225-pounder had 13 goals and 42 points in 59 games for the Checkers this season while piling up 139 penalty minutes.

"I'm excited to move on but hope to be back one day," Osala tweeted.

Canes general manager Jim Rutherford isn't convinced that will happen. Last week, he was discussing Osala and the persistent rumor he was headed to the KHL and said, "If he wants to play in the NHL, I don't think that would be a good choice for him.""