Duffer’s Dabbles: Former Red Wings Forward Lands In Germany

Frans Nielsen for Moritz Seider? Yes, every Detroit Red Wings fan is nodding in approval of that trade.

Prize German defenseman Moritz Seider is making his NHL debut for the Red Wings on Thursday against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Meanwhile, former Red Wings center Frans Nielsen has found a new hockey home in Seider’s homeland. Nielsen is now skating with Eisbaren Berlin in Germany’s DEL.

Nielsen, with 925 NHL games on his resume and set to be playing for Denmark in next year’s Winter Olympic Games, will don his usual No. 51 again. He gave those digits up his last two years with Red Wings, handing No. 51 over to Valteri Filppula. The Red Wings bought Nielsen out of his contract in the summer.

Jack Johnson Leaves Behind A Legacy

Jack Johnson will be playing for the Colorado Avalanche this season after signing a contract with the club. And that could mean hockey fans might want to keep an eye on the fortunes of the New York Rangers this season.

Over Johnson’s NHL career, whenever he departs from a club, good things begin happening for that team. The 2011-12 season saw the Los Angeles Kings trading Johnson to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the NHL trade deadline. LA won the franchise’s first Stanley Cup that spring.

Sounds like Jack Johnson is trending in the right direction, very possible that he will make the initial squad out of camp. Bright side is he brings over 950 games of experience #Avs #GoAvsGo #PTO #NHL pic.twitter.com/56TcDt4If4

— Avalanche Territory (Brennan Vogt) (@AvsTerritory) October 3, 2021

With Johnson, a former Michigan Wolverine, moving to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018-19, the Blue Jackets ended up sweeping the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening playoff round.

Last season saw Johnson joining the Rangers. His old team the Penguins wound up producing a first-place finish.

Around The League

The AHL announced the addition of 10 female officials to the league’s staff for the first time ever. Among that group of 10 is Elizabeth Mantha, the sister of former Red Wings forward and current Washington Capital Anthony Mantha.

Vegas: Finishing first and reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2017-18, the Golden Knights have set the performance bar high for a first-year expansion team. That’s leaving the Seattle Kraken in a no-win position as they embark on their first campaign.