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Detroit Red Wings Sign Frans Nielsen, Re-sign Darren Helm

By Mike Rizzo

Feb 25, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; New York Islanders center Frans Nielsen (51) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. New York Islanders won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; New York Islanders center Frans Nielsen (51) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. New York Islanders won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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July 1st kicked off the NHL’s free agent period and the Detroit Red Wings were active signing Frans Nielsen and re-signing Darren Helm.

The Detroit Red Wings kicked off the free agent period by bringing in a replacement for Pavel Datsyuk and re-signing Darren Helm (sigh) for five years at 3.85 million per year.

The big news of the day, though, is Frans Nielsen becoming a Red Wing. He didn’t make my top five free agent target list but I still think this is a good signing.

The Red Wings had to replace Datsyuk, and when Steven Stamkos went back to the Tampa Bay Lightning the Red Wings had to go to Plan B.

Nielsen signed a six year deal worth five million dollars per year. For people complaining about the term, just look at some of the big-dollar contracts that have been signed today.

Seeing all those contracts makes the Nielsen deal look pretty good in my opinion. An Achilles heel for the Red Wings has been their performance in the shootouts. Nielsen is 42 for 82 in the shootout which is a 51.2 percent success rate.

The Red Wings have lost numerous games in the shootout so having a player who has a successful track record in the shootout helps. Every point counts in the National Hockey League especially for the Red Wings who right now are a borderline playoff team.

More importantly though, while Nielsen hasn’t scored 30 goals in a single season, he has scored 20 or more goals in two of the last three seasons. If he can consistently continue that trend of scoring 20 or more goals he will fit in nicely with this team.

He is 32 years old so he’s not as young as Milan Lucic, who was my number one choice for the Red Wings to target, but he does have a few good years left.

Nielsen also replaces Datsyuk in the face-off circle as he is always around the 45-50% mark during his career.

With all that being said though he doesn’t fix the Red Wings main issue. DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE. The Red Wings need to either get Justin Schultz which I recommended or look at the trade market.

Next: Pistons Re-sign Andre Drummond

So far today I give the Red Wings a C, but if they fix that defense that grade could rise.

What do you think about the moves today?

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