Ex-Oilers defenseman signs with Eisbären Berlin
© Kim Klement-Imagn Images - Ex-Oilers defenseman signs with Eisbären BerlinFinnish defenseman Markus Niemeläinen, 26, has signed a one-year contract with Eisbären Berlin, the DEL club announced on Thursday.
“I am very happy to play for what is probably the best DEL club,” said Niemeläinen. “I have heard that the Eisbären fans, the city of Berlin and the Uber Arena are among the best in Europe. Our goal is to win the championship. I will give everything for this. I can't wait to meet my new teammates.”
Originally from Kuopio, Niemeläinen played for several Finnish clubs, including HPK, Tappara and Ässät, and played two years of junior hockey for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. He was chosen in the third round, 63rd overall, by the Edmonton Oilers in 2016.
Between 2021 and 2024, Niemeläinen played mostly with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors but he also played 43 NHL games with the Oilers, recording one assist and eight penalty minutes. Previously he had played 179 regular-season and playoff Liiga games, scoring three goals, adding 17 assists with 113 penalty minutes.
At 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds, Niemeläinen is tall and lanky and didn’t produce much offense in the NHL, but the German club sees a lot of attributes that will help the team.
“Markus Niemeläinen is an experienced defender who has made it to the NHL,” said Eisbären sports director Stéphane Richer. “He is tall and physically strong. Markus also contributes well on offense. As a Finn, he is already familiar with the larger ice surface and European ice hockey.”
Eisbären Berlin is currently playing in the Champions Hockey League, having split their first two games on the road. No word if Niemeläinen will be in the lineup for either of the team’s home games this weekend against Czech teams Dynamo Pardubice or Sparta Prague.
Berlin’s DEL opener is September 20 on the road in Cologne against Kölner Haie.
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