Nikita Nesterov is leaving the NHL and heading back to his native Russia.

The defenceman’s agent, Dan Milstein, announced on Twitter Thursday his client has decided to sign in the KHL.

Nesterov finished the 2016-17 campaign with the Montreal Canadiens after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in January for Jonathan Racine and a 2017 sixth-round pick.

The 24-year-old became an unrestricted free agent after he failed to receive a qualifying offer from the Canadiens.

Nesterov was selected in the fifth-round (148th overall) by the Lightning in 2011 NHL Draft. In 132 career games, he has nine goals, 24 assists and 81 penalty minutes.