Derick Brassard angered an Austrian team by returning to North America. (U.S. Presswire)

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Derick Brassard spent a couple of weeks during the NHL lockout playing for Austrian team Salzburg EC.

He was off to a great start and tearing up the league to the tune of four goals in just six games. Even though his time with Salzburg was brief, he was one of the few bright spots on a struggling team before he decided he wanted to return to North America for the remainder of the lockout.

That decision did not please Salzburg. The club accused him of breaching his contract after assuring them he would stay and then ripped him in a press release.

Here is part of that release, via Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:

"Derick Brassard has turned his back on the club today, despite contractual obligations and reassurances to the contrary, After the player cleared things from the dressing room on Monday morning without warning, the Red Bulls tried in vain to contact him by telephone. The powers that be at the Salzburg club then contacted Brassard personally to let him know they were unwilling to let (him) go. He was told not to do anything hasty that he might later regret, and he was reminded in no uncertain terms of the contractual situation. Unfortunately, Brassard still flew out of Salzburg (on Tuesday) morning."

The team also claimed that it informed the IIHF of his actions and will look at all possible appeals and legal action.

Brassard's agent, Allan Walsh, wasted no time in jumping to his client's defense (as he's been known to do from time to time, including when it has come to Brassard's playing time in Columbus) and pointed out that a number of NHL players have decided to leave that particular team after just a couple of weeks.

Along with Brassard, Winnipeg's Tobias Enstrom, New Jersey's David Clarkson, and one of Brassard's Columbus teammates, Derek Dorsett, had all signed with Salzburg this season only to eventually part ways with the club.

"There is no more unprofessional organization in all of Europe,” said Walsh, via the Dispatch. "The club is misrepresenting the facts in an attempt to justify to their fans and media why NHL players keep leaving."

The 25-year-old Brassard was originally a first-round pick, No. 6 overall, by the Blue Jackets in 2005. Columbus had hoped he would become the No. 1 center that the franchise has long been looking for -- and still is looking for. He has averaged around 40 points per season over the past three years.

He has two years remaining on his NHL contract, which will pay him $3.2 million per season through the end of the 2013-14 season.

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