Frans Nielsen will be playing in the SM-liiga during the lockout. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Another Islander has jumped ship to Europe.

Frans Nielsen has signed with Rauma Lukko of the SM-liiga in Finland, according to both eliteprospects.com and Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. PHT mentions the lucky fact that the defensive center isn’t missing out on much money from his NHL deal, as this was to be his lowest-paid season of the four-year extension he signed in February.

There had been rumors of Nielsen considering playing in Finland in the first days following the NHL lockout, so this confirms an already well-known “development,” so to speak.