Munich, Germany - The Frankfurt Lions, reigning champion of the German Elite League (DEL), Thursday announced the signing of St. Louis Blues center Doug Weight to a lockout contract. After inking Erik Cole and Olaf Kolzig, the Berlin Eisbären also secured the services of another NHLer by bringing in Los Angeles Kings defenseman Nathan Dempsey.

This would mark the second DEL stint for the native of Warren, Michigan, USA.

Weight also played in Germany during the NHL's previous labor dispute in 1994-95, tallying five points (2G, 3A) in eight games with the Rosenheim Star Bulls.

Said Frankfurt's GM Lance Nethery: "Doug is one of the best passers in the National Hockey League. We're honored to have him on our team."

The 5'11", 211lbs, forward also has above-average speed and can read the game very well.

Weight, who was drafted 34th overall in the 1990 Entry Draft by the New York Rangers, has scored a total of 828 points (224G, 604A) in 912 regular-season NHL games with the Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues. In the playoffs, he has tallied 55 points (20G, 35A) in 69 games.

On the international stage, Weight played for the US team that claimed the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. He made a second WCH appearance in 2004. Weight also won an Olympic silver medal with Team USA in the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002. Moreover he appeared in two IIHF World Championships (1993 and 1994).

LA's Dempsey joining Kolzig, Cole in Berlin

In another lockout signing, the Berlin Eisbären inked 30-year-old LA Kings defenseman Nathan Dempsey Thursday.

The native of Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada was drafted 245th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Dempsey is known a steady, puck-moving defender.

He has recorded 74 points (19G, 55A) in 190 regular-season NHL games for the Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and the Kings. He also tallied two assists in six playoff games with Toronto in 2001-02.