11th year Swedish-born defenseman Niclas Andersen(38) signed a 1-year 2-way deal with Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2015/2016 season but failed to crack the parent club’s lineup, playing his first full season in North America with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
That was all the 28-year needed heading into his first unrestricted free agency status after putting together a decent 4 goals and 10 assists performance with a +6 rating in 69 AHL games as a “rookie.”
The 6’1″ 207 lbs. blue liner is heading back to the KHL signing for 2016/2017 with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.
He has already spent one other season in the league in 2012/2013 with Severstal Cherepovets but the majority of his playing time has been 6 years in his home country’s SHL for Brynas IF.
A fairly steady, stay at home d-man it’s almost ironic that he managed 14 points last season, as it’s his 2nd highest points, only beaten in 2014/2015 by a best mark of 5 goals and 17 assists for 22 total.
He also has a 2012 SHL Championship on his resume.