The Detroit Red Wings have turned to a Dane in their need for a center.
With Pavel Datsyuk returning to Russia, the Wings targeted Frans Nielsen as their best option on the free agent market (once Steven Stamkos decided to stay with Tampa Bay, at least) and, after talking with Nielsen in advance of Friday's noon market opening, they secured him with a six-year, $31.5 million deal with an annual salary cap hit of $5.25 million.
There is a no-movement clause the first two years, then a limited no-trade clause. The annual breakdown in actual salary is $6 million, $6 million, $6 million, $5.5 million, $5 million, $3 million.
The move came a few hours after the Wings signed Darren Helm for five years with an annual cap hit of $3.85 million.
Nielsen, 32, has 119 goals and 230 assists in 606 career NHL games, all with the New York Islanders. He's known for being sound at both ends of the ice and durable (he has missed just five games the past five seasons).
Nielsen, from Herning, Denmark, twice has hit the 20-goal mark, including this past season, and he regularly flirts with 30 assists. His sound playmaking skills should benefit a second line with wingers such as Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar and Helm.
