No surpise with this announcement as Karsums was expected to head to Europe if things didn’t work out this season. Things haven’t worked out. Tampa Bay is relinquished of Karsum’s one-way salary but will retain his rights.

Official announcement from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have assigned right wing Martins Karsums to HC MVD Balashikha of the Kontinental Hockey League today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced.  Karsums has played the first part of the season with the Lightning’s top minor league affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League.

Karsums, 5-foot-10, 198 pounds, has played in 36 games with the Admirals this season, recording four goals and 16 points with a plus-1 rating.  He was recently named to Team Latvia for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  In joining HC MVD, Karsums will be united with his national team coach as HC MVD bench boss Olegs Znaroks will also lead the Latvian entry in the Olympics.  Karsums also represented his country in last summer’s World Championships, recording a goal and four points in six games.

A native of Riga, Lativa, Karsums was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the second round, 64th overall, at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.  He has played in 212 career AHL games with Norfolk and the Providence Bruins, amassing 54 goals and 155 points.  Prior to turning pro, Karsums played in 139 games with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, tallying 78 goals and 144 points from 2003-06.