Report: Crazy development from the unstable KHL

In a shocking development out of Russia’s biggest professional hockey league, the KHL, it’s been announced that one of its teams, Metallurg Novokuznetsk, will cease operations immediately and withdraw from the league entirely.

It was rumored that the financially troubled league was considering contracting this offseason, but Metallurg Novokuznetsk is the first team to officially be announced amongst the cull. The team, which is located in the farthest reaches of Siberia, has been an abject failure since joining the KHL in 2008. They’ve failed to reach the playoffs in a single season, never finishing higher their 5th place in their division.

It’s unclear the exact fate of the team’s players, coaches and executives at this point, however it’s likely that they’ll all be released from their contracts and enter the free agent market. Stay tuned for more developments from the KHL this offseason, it could be a bumpy ride.