Wednesday, May 19, 2010

RED WINGS SIGN MATTIAS RITOLA TO THREE-YEAR DEAL

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...Swedish Forward Will Vie For Roster Spot In 2010-11 …

Detroit, MI... Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland announced today that the club has signed forward Mattias Ritola to a three-year contract. In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ritola, 23, was Detroit’s fourth round pick (103rd overall) in the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The Borlange, Sweden native has spent the past three seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. In 2009-10, he scored a career-high 19 goals and tied a career high with 42 points. In 211 career games with the Griffins, he has 106 points (41-65-106) and 144 penalty minutes.

“Mattias showed steady improvement in each of his three years in the American Hockey League’” said Holland. “We look forward to having him come into training camp this September ready to take the next step and compete for a job on our roster.”

Ritola has played in seven career NHL games with Detroit. He recorded his first career point when he assisted on a Tomas Kopecky goal on March 16, 2008 at Columbus. Ritola appeared in five regular season games with the Red Wings in 2009-10, averaging 11:41 of ice time and made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut on May 6, 2010 in Detroit’s 7-1 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Mattias Ritola, Left Wing
Born Mar 14 1987 -- Borlange, Sweden
Height 5.11 -- Weight 205 -- Shoots L
Selected by Detroit Red Wings in 4th Round (#103 overall) of 2005 NHL Entry Draft