Boston Bruins’ Kai Wissmann Returning To Germany
After a one-year attempt at making a pro hockey career in North America, Boston Bruins depth defenseman Kai Wissmann is returning to the DEL’s Eisbären Berlin for 2023-24, according to the team.
During his one-year stay in the Bruins organization, Wissmann, 26, never got an NHL look. However, a solid showing with Germany at the recently-concluded Men’s World Championship could have garnered Wissmann some NHL interest for next season, as it did after the 2022 edition of the tournament.
In his lone season with the Bruins, spent entirely with AHL Providence, Wissmann registered a goal and eight assists (nine points) in 31 games. He didn’t appear in any Calder Cup Playoff contests for Providence, failing to earn much of any responsibility at the AHL level.
Berlin announced that Wissmann signed a long-term deal but didn’t clarify its length. It’s safe to assume he’ll play the rest of his career overseas after being unable to secure an everyday AHL role in his mid-20s.
Before joining the Bruins in 2022, Wissmann had been a part of the Eisbären organization dating back to junior hockey in 2012. The only team he’s ever played for in the top German league, Wissmann has logged six goals, 62 assists, 68 points, and a +67 rating over nine seasons and 285 games with Berlin.
Wissmann had a career-high four goals and 20 points with Berlin in 2021-22, spearheading the NHL contract offer from Boston. He’s still technically a pending restricted free agent so the team can retain his NHL rights with a qualifying offer. Given the long-term commitment in Germany, that’s an improbable scenario.
Wissmann said the following on his return to his home country:
During my time in the AHL, I noticed more and more how much I missed the atmosphere in the different DEL arenas. Especially at our home games in the Mercedes-Benz Arena. I’m really looking forward to hearing the whole arena sing our polar bear song again before we enter through the polar bear’s head. When I think about it, I’m already motivated again for the coming season. It feels like coming home to me. Berlin is a great city.
Boston Bruins Sign Kai Wissmann
The Boston Bruins are bringing over a big defenseman from Europe, signing Kai Wissmann out of the DEL to a one-year entry-level contract. The deal carries an NHL cap hit of $825K and will represent Wissmann’s first opportunity to play hockey in North America after a long successful run in Germany.
Hockey fans on this side of the pond may have recently seen Wissmann suit up for Germany at the World Championship, where he racked up seven points in eight games, continuing a bit of an offensive breakout that started late in the DEL season. He had 20 points in 55 games this season for Eisbaren Berlin but then went on to rack up seven more in 12 playoff games, winning the league championship for the second year in a row. While his league-leading plus-minus shouldn’t carry as much weight as it once did, a +31 rating in 55 games is still mighty impressive.
Wissmann, 25, went undrafted out of the German junior leagues, despite some strong numbers and obvious raw tools. The 6’4″ right-shot defenseman will be an interesting player to watch in the Bruins system next year, especially given the early-season absence of Charlie McAvoy. While the team already has quite a few NHL options, this isn’t necessarily just a minor league signing. Wissman has been playing in the DEL for years, first making his debut in the 2014-15 season.