By BRUCE GARRIOCH

Alexei Kaigorodov is going to have to dig into his pocket and give back a few rubles to the Senators.

The 23-year-old centre jumped on a plane yesterday and returned to Russia rather than report to the club's AHL affiliate in Binghamton, a move that's going to cost him. He was also officially suspended by Senators GM John Muckler.

After signing with Ottawa in September, Kaigorodov received a $137,500 (all figures US) bonus, but since he's reneged on the contract, he'll have to return a good chunk of it to the Senators.

Two league agents told the Sun that Kaigorodov -- under the terms of the NHLPA's agreement with the NHL -- will have to pay back $110,000 of the bonus.

While he'll make between $750,000-$1 million tax free with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Russian Elite League this season, he won't have a chance of collecting his $765,000 salary from the Senators. It doesn't stop there. A $137,500 bonus payable in April -- regardless of where he plays this season _ isn't going to have to be paid out, either.

According to his contract, Kaigorodov was also supposed to get another $275,000 during the 2006-07 season.

The Senators will still own his rights, but it's doubtful he'll ever be seen again in an Ottawa uniform. He was scheduled to make $75,000 while riding the bus with the struggling Baby Sens.

Kaigorodov left Ottawa on a 3 p.m. flight yesterday. He is going back to the Russian team at a good time. Magnitogorsk is currently on a seven-day "national team" break, which means he won't start practising with the club until next week.

Muckler wouldn't comment and Kaigorodov's Toronto-based agent, Anton Thun, refused to return phone calls.