Veteran NHL defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo has signed with Adler Mannheim of the German DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga), reports Fox Sports’ Andy Strickland. Colaiacovo failed to find a satisfiable NHL contract—or even a PTO—this offseason.
The rugged defenseman has had stops in Toronto, St. Louis, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Buffalo, earning 34G and 123A in 470 NHL games. Last season with Buffalo Colaiacovo scored 1G and 4A in 36 games. Toronto drafted Colaiacovo 17th overall in 2001, and while the defenseman never lived up to his hype, he established a solid career in those fourteen NHL seasons.
Colaiacovo was rumored to have two KHL offers this offseason, reported Rsports. Moving to Russia never came to fruition, however, and Colaicovo continued to look elsewhere. He will join former NHLers Marcel Goc and Luke Adam with Mannheim as the team tries to improve upon its current third-place standing.