Mark Barberio ends his controversial run in the Swiss National League

After five suspensions over the course of less than two seasons, the latest for breaking someone's jaw with a crosscheck, former NHLer Mark Barberio is leaving Switzerland and its National League. Barberio has signed a new contract with Ak Bars of the KHL and is leaving Lausanne effective immediately.

"The KHL is one of the strongest leagues in the world, and Ak Bars is one of the best clubs in Russia, with a solid reputation and a long history," said Barberio on Ak Bars' website. "This is a big challenge for me, the level of the game is very high, and I want to prove that I am ready to play. I always give myself up in matches, work for the team, play all over the court, always ready to join the attack. I can play on the powerplay, create chances and at the same time strictly defend in my zone."

Barberio has been the subject of a lot of criticism as of late. Following his latest hit that broke the jaw of Garrett Roe of the ZSC Lions, the team released a video showing all the ways he has targeted their best players over the past two seasons. While suspending him for eight games for the crosscheck, the National League noted that "even though he professes not to want to hurt anyone, the accused seems to lose his composure in contested game situations and tends to make rash and dangerous decisions."

There was speculation in Switzerland that Barberio decided to leave in an attempt to shed his reputation as a dirty player. Barberio, 31, played 272 games in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche.

Source: Sport24.ru

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