A pending RFA with five years of service in the Panthers organization, 25 year-old Kamil Kreps has signed with the SM-Liiga’s Karpat (Finland).
Highly unlikely to be tendered an offer by Florida – and apparently little interest existed anywhere within the NHL – Kreps should have a far better opportunity to gain quality icetime abroad. From the team’s press release (via bizarre translation):
“Many European clubs offered me a contract, but I ended up with carp, because I wanted a good, athletic team, which has the potential to succeed,” Kreps says. He notes that it is not been personally satisfied with the last two term in the NHL and wanted therefore to Eurpoe.
Party on!
The former second-round (!) pick in 2003 finishes his Florida career with 18 goals, 42 assists, 60 points, and 71 penalty minutes in 232 NHL games.