"The Vancouver Canucks will be minus Pavol Demitra when the 2010-11 season kicks off in October.

Demitra has signed a one-year deal to play for Yaroslavl of the KHL in Russia.

The veteran of 847 NHL games played for the Canucks last season and struggled, scoring only three goals and 13 assists in 28 games.

The 35-year-old native of Slovakia was hampered by shoulder problems last season, but did play for Slovakia at the Vancouver Olympics."