Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Plan B to replace Datsyuk: Red Wings sign Frans Nielsen

St Louis Blues v New York Islanders

UNIONDALE, NY - DECEMBER 06: Frans Nielsen #51 of the New York Islanders celebrates his first period goal against the St. Louis Blues at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on December 6, 2014 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Getty Images

He’s not Pavel Datsyuk and he’s not Steven Stamkos, but Frans Nielsen is no slouch. He’s a solid two-way center, and the Islanders are going to miss him.

Nielsen has reportedly signed a six-year deal in Detroit with a cap hit of $5.25 million. It’s a big commitment from the Red Wings -- especially for a 32-year-old -- but they’ve got a lengthy playoff streak on the line, and they intend to keep it going.

Nielsen leaves the Islanders, for whom he played almost a decade. As mentioned, they’ll miss him. But they’ve got 19-year-old center Mathew Barzal in the pipeline, and they’ve got to re-sign John Tavares in a couple of years. They also signed Andrew Ladd to a big deal today.

Nielsen had 20 goals and 32 assists in 81 games for the Isles in 2015-16.