MOSCOW, March 11 (R-Sport) - Defenseman Arturs Kulda will return to the Winnipeg Jets for the remainder of the NHL season, his KHL team Sibir Novosibirsk said upon releasing him Monday.

Kulda played 15 games for the Jets and their predecessor team the Atlanta Thrashers between 2009 and 2012 before leaving for Sibir, which was knocked out of the KHL playoffs last week.

“In the near future, Arturs Kulda will join up with the NHL team Winnipeg Jets, in which he will also undertake the end of the season,” Sibir said in a website statement.

Latvian left-handed defenseman Kulda, 24, played 57 KHL games during his time with Sibir, scoring nine goals and seven assists.