Saku Koivu is reportedly preparing to play at home in Finland if the NHL lockout extends past Christmas.
The Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reported on Thursday that Koivu will sign with his hometown club TPS Turku of the Finnish league with plans to play after the holidays if there is no new NHL collective bargaining agreement.
The 38-year-old centre played several seasons for TPS Turku before breaking into the NHL and returned to play there during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
Koivu skated in 74 games last season for the Anaheim Ducks and scored 11 goals and 27 assists. The 16-year NHL veteran signed a one-year contract extension with the Ducks this past May that is worth $3 million with another $800,000 available to him in bonuses.
