8th year defenseman Nick Schaus(5) has done it.
In his 5th season overseas he’s ascended to the highest point on the hockey ladder signing a one-year deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL after scoring 7 goals and a career high 29 assists and 36 points (both league bests) skating for HC Dynamo Pardubice through 48 games in the Czech Extraliga.
He has yet to stay in one country for more than a run but each move has been a step up of competitiveness.
It started in 2013/2014 with Stavanger Oilers of GET-ligean and the end result was a 2014 Norwegian Championship, along with being named MVP.
He then set out for Germany joining Grizzlys Adams Wolfburg of DEL but it was sort of a down year for him.
His next decision was to try Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, agreeing for a campaign with HC Innsbruck and things started to gel again.
He would score a career high 12 goals while adding 21 assists for a tidy 33 points.
Set to turn 31-years old over the summer, it’s been a nice, steady climb for the former UMass-Lowell blue liner.
Nick Schaus(28) Stavanger Oilers
4th year undrafted defenseman Nick Schaus(28) leaves North American pro hockey for Stavanger Oilers of GET-ligaen in Norway.
Initially signed to a one-year entry level deal by San Jose Sharks he played in 92 regular and postseason games with their farm team, Worcester Sharks (4 goals, 21 assists).
He was left unqualified for his sophomore campaign but quickly picked up an AHL deal with Syracuse Crunch, where he also spent some time in the ECHL with affiliate Elmira Jackals.
The small-ish 5’11” 200 lbs. blue liner continued with Anaheim Ducks‘ minor league squads for 2012/2013 signing a one-year contract with new affiliate Norfolk Admirals but found less space on the roster in a lockout shortened NHL season and spent more slightly more time with Fort Wayne Komets putting up some impressive numbers (5 goals, 17 assists in 26 games).
All’s well though as the 27-year will likely excel overseas.