Bobby Ryan signs to play with Sweden's Mora IK

Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan has signed a contract with Mora IshockeyKlubb of Sweden's second-highest professional league HockeyAllsvenskan, according to a post on the team's official website. Ryan will join Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar on Mora.

The decision to play overseas is due to the ongoing labor dispute between the NHL and NHL Players Association. As of Wednesday, the players are locked out by the owners due to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement. On Wednesday, the union presented a new offer that reportedly made concessions in the owners' favor.

According to NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, the owners did not respond favorably to the proposal.

Ryan had previously stated in September that he was not interested in signing overseas because he wanted to be involved in the labor negotiations and didn't want to take away somebody's job. However, Mora will have to cut one of two North American players to make room for Ryan on the roster, according to a report by Stockholm news outlet Aftonbladet.

Ryan will be participating in the Hurricane Sandy benefit "Operation Hat Trick" on Saturday. According to the post on Mora's official site, Ryan will join the team on Tuesday.