As he enters the fourth year of his six-year, $31.5 million contract, Nielsen is at the proverbial crossroads. He’s a solid third-line center, but he needs to find an offense spark on the retooling Red Wings.
If he cannot find more consistency offensively, the Wings will be forced to consider all their options moving forward with the affable Dane.
It’s a position the Wings would rather not find themselves in, because Nielsen is the walking definition of a pro’s pro.
Frans Nielsen is fine. He’s not great.