Landeskog, Markov, Vanek head to European teams

• Gabriel Landeskog left Sweden in 2009 to play in Ontario Hockey League
• Andrei Markov is joining the Kontinental Hockey League
• Thomas Vanek leads an exodus to Austrian league

When Matt Duchene signed with a Swedish team on Monday, Gabriel Landeskog joked that his Colorado Avalanche teammate would have to conduct his interviews in Swedish because Landeskog had been doing his in English.

Landeskog will get a chance to speak Swedish more often after agreeing to terms with Djurgarden.

"Heading home to my old team Djurgarden," he tweeted on Tuesday, confirming his lockout deal. "So excited to get back on the ice in front of family and friends. And especially, to play the game!"

Landeskog has been gone from Sweden professionally since 2009 when he joined the Ontario Hockey League Kitchener Rangers to prepare for the draft. After two seasons there, he was drafted No. 2 overall in 2011.

He won rookie of the year and this summer was named the youngest captain in NHL history.

Landeskog also made history after completing his junior career in Djurgarden. He was promoted to the big team on Feb. 21, 2009, becoming the youngest player in team history at 16 years, 90 days. That made him the second youngest player in Swedish Elite League history. He finished the season with one assist in three games.

Djurgarden has dropped to Sweden's second division. It had brought in Nashville Predators forward Patric Hornqvist, but he never played because of insurance and tax issues and has moved to Lausanne in Switzerland. San Jose Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray is on the team.

"Gonna miss all the Avs fans at the Pepsi Center, you guys are one of a kind," Landeskog tweeted. "I hope to see you all back as soon as possible."

Also Wednesday, the Kontinental Hockey League team Vityaz Chekov introduced Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov as its newest member.

He has been limited to 20 games over the past two seasons by knee surgery.

Markov played in Moscow and Voskresensk in Russia before coming to the NHL. He played for Dynamo Moscow during the 2004-05 lockout.

The Austrian Hockey League also is getting into the NHL act.

Buffalo Sabres star Thomas Vanek signed with Graz earlier in the week and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Corey Potter (Vienna), Carolina Hurricanes forward Andreas Nodl (Innsbruck) and Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell (Orli) have followed. Vanek and Nodl are natives of Austria. Orli is based in the Czech Republic.

Nashville Predators forward Craig Smith signed with KalPa of the Finnish league.

Meanwhile, the KHL team Lev Praha cut ties with Calgary Flames forward Jiri Hudler. He had an abdominal/groin muscle injury and was expected to be for about a month.

Hudler had played in four games, getting one assist, before he was injured.