While the hockey world awaits the labor resolution that may never occur, its former employees toil abroad. The ambitious percentage of the NHLPA that are looking to stay in shape and make a little cheddar, currently play in a foreign land.

For some it is their homeland, a welcome refuge from the ugliness of the NHL lockout. The KHL and the other leagues that house the exiled stars are also home to some other players that are taking some of the headlines from the big names that are out there.

These might be players who were once on the radar and draft boards for NHL teams but decided against coming across the ocean to play in the NHL. Some came to North America and failed to adjust, and some are castoffs from the NHL itself, who have found a home and success abroad.

Sergei Mozyakin- Currently the all-time leading scorer in the KHL. He was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2002 Entry Draft but never came to North America. Mozyakin currently leads the KHL in scoring with 42 points in 28 games playing for Metallburg with reigning NHL scoring king Evgeni Malkin.

Jori Lehtera-The Finnish center was taken by the St. Louis Blues in the 2008 draft but only managed to stick around for 7 games with the Peoria Rivermen in 2008-09. He returned to Finland and was the league’s MVP the following year, posting 69 points in 57 games. He currently plays for HC Sibir Novosibirsk where he has posted 16 points in ten games.

Rastislav Stana- Though he has already played himself through the NHL and out again back to the KHL, Ratislav Stana is now one of the top goaltenders in the league. After an ordinary tour through the North American hockey leagues Stana headed east to the Swedish Elite League (SEL) before settling in with the KHL and Severestal. He has played dominantly the last two seasons with CSKA Moscow and is the current goals against leader with a microscopic 1.58 GAA.

Vladimir Tarasenko- The 2010 first round pick of the St. Louis Blues, Tarasenko was expected to make the jump to the NHL after honing his talents in the KHL for a couple of years. The 20-year-old Taresenko is tearing it up in the Russia, playing for SKA St. Petersberg. He has 24 points in 20 games, and has established a great chemistry with Russian teammate Ilya Kovalchuk.

Renat Mamashev-Russian defenseman who currently plays for Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik, leads all KHL in scoring. At 29 years old, an NHL team never drafted Mamashev, though he played for the Moose Jaw Warriors during an unimpressive 72 game season back in 2000-01. Mamashev has been a revelation for Neftekhimik this year, with a statistical explosion that he hasn’t shown at any pint in his career.