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New York Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (L) watches the play as he is screened by Winnipeg Jets' Andrew Ladd during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg March 28, 2012.Reuters

Andrew Ladd won't be heading to the Russian-based KHL after all.

The Winnipeg Free Press reported Thursday that the Jets captain decided against joining Avangard Omsk during the NHL lockout.

The news came a little over 12 hours after the team announced Ladd's signing.

According to the Free Press, the 26-year-old had a change of heart because his wife Brandy is pregnant.

"I couldn't really justify leaving her by herself," Ladd told the paper. "The more I thought about it, the more I thought I didn't want to leave."

Ladd would have been just the second locked-out Canadian NHLer to play in the KHL. Jets teammate Evander Kane made his debut with Dinamo Minsk earlier this week.

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