James Wisniewski hopes to jump from minors to NHL playoff team

After a whirlwind world tour, James Wisniewski wants to finish his season in North America's top league.

The veteran defenseman began 2016-17 at Tampa Bay Lightning training camp, signed a contract with Admiral Vladivostok in the KHL, left to play in Switzerland for HC Lugano in the Spengler Cup, and is now with the AHL's Chicago Wolves on a minor-league deal.

He hopes he'll be able to catch the eye of NHL general managers now that he's back on this side of the Atlantic.

"I was hoping NHL teams would be like, 'Oh, he's playing games (overseas).' But I came to find out that when you're gone out of North America, you're kind of out of sight, out of mind," Wisniewski told Michael Traikos of Postmedia. "... That's why I'm playing in the (AHL). Hopefully a playoff team recognizes that and takes a chance on me and I can prove everyone wrong once again in my career. I feel like I'm not that far from having a 51-point season."

Wisniewski hit that point total with Columbus in 2013-14, but was bought out by Carolina last summer after missing all but 47 seconds of 2015-16 due to injury.

In three games with the Wolves, he's recorded two goals and one assist, and he could be a savvy addition for a playoff team in need of veteran and offensive experience on the blue line.