A 500-game NHL veteran leaving North America, signs a multi-year deal overseas

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Mike Armenti
July 28, 2023 (9:45)

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An unfortunate aspect to free agency in the NHL is that once most teams spend their money in the first few weeks following July 1st, it can be difficult to get for some players to sign a deal at what they believe is their fair market value. Such appears to be the case for 31-year-old Patrik Nemeth.

Following an NHL career that has spanned 500 regular season games thus far, a Nemeth, a veteran defenseman, has decided to take his talents overseas. Per an official announcement from Swiss Hockey News, Nemeth has signed a two-year deal with SC Bern of the Swiss National League.

Nemeth, a former second round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2010, began his career in the AHL and, as we well know, not all paths to the NHL are the same. It took a few seasons to get a full-time role in the NHL for Nemeth. However, for the past six seasons, Nemeth has been able to stick in the NHL and not look back. Besides Dallas, Nemeth also played for the Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Arizona Coyotes.

His time in Arizona did not go according to plan and, after one season there, the team decided to buy out the final year of his contract, sending him to free agency.

Nemeth won a Calder Cup with the AHL's Texas Stars, and a gold medal with his native Sweden at the 2012 World Junior Championship tournament. He was credited with an assist on a goal by now Rangers star Mika Zibanejad in OT of the gold medal game to topple Russia, whom many had viewed as the favourite in the contest.

Best of luck to Patrik in this next chapter of his career.