After not catching on with an NHL team for training camp, Frans Nielsen has opted to head back overseas as Eisbaren Berlin of the DEL announced that it has inked the 37-year-old to a one-year deal.
Nielsen spent the last five seasons with the Red Wings after spending a decade as a member of the Islanders. When he first joined Detroit, he was a capable two-way center who gave the Red Wings some extra depth in the top six. He wasn’t bad in the offensive end in his first two seasons there, notching 17 and 16 goals, respectively, but his production fell off sharply after that. Last season, Nielsen suited up in just 29 contests, scoring only once while chipping in with five assists in a little over 12 minutes a game on average.
That type of production is hardly worth the $5.25 million average annual value he was carrying, which resulted in Detroit buying him out this summer. The cumulative cap hit ($4.25 million this season, $500,000 next) is almost the same and the move saved them only $500,000 in actual money plus a contract slot, but it was a move that still made sense for them with how far his stock had fallen.
Considering Nielsen didn’t have any takers for a PTO and will turn 38 in April, there’s a very high chance that this is the end of the line for him in the NHL. Assuming that is the case, he’ll finish with 473 points in 925 games between New York and Detroit. Not a bad career for a late third-round pick (87th overall) back in 2002; Nielsen has the sixth-most points and the eighth-most games played of anyone from that draft class.
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