Official signing alert: Longtime veteran signs outside the NHL after lack of free agency interest

Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Tanner Kero has had to sign a deal overseas with the DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga) in Germany to continue to play professional hockey.

The forward has been overseas for quite some time, as last year he spent the season in the SHL with HV71 Jonkoping, where he'd score 22 points (9-13) in 52 games.

Before he made the jump overseas, he had spent the last two seasons of his career playing with the Colorado Eagles and Texas Stars.

However, for Kero, it seems the dream is dead, for now.

For Kero, his NHL career began in Chicago with the Blackhawks during the 2015-16 season. He'd finish his time in Chicago, having played 72 games and scored 22 points (8-14).

He'd never play the kind of hockey that made general managers want to keep him around, as his career highs in the NHL were 16 points (6-10) in 47 games.

He's always been considered a goal-scoring option in the AHL and a fringe depth forward in the NHL. Kero's fate would be sealed as a result of his lack of production in the league.

For now, it seems like Kero's time in the league is finished after having played 134 games in the NHL, scoring 35 points (11-24).

Kero joins former NHLers in Germany, as Ryan MacInnis, Brady Austin, Patrick Russell, and Dominik Uher are on Kolner Haie's roster.