RED WINGS FORWARD KRIS DRAPER RETIRES AFTER 20 NHL SEASONS

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...Veteran Grinder was a Four-Time Stanley Cup Champion in Detroit…

Stanley Cup Parade downtown Detroit - Draper's 4th
Photo By Jack Rosenberg / In Play! Magazine

Detroit, MI... Kris Draper, a four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, announced today that he will retire from the National Hockey League after 20 seasons.  Draper appeared in 1,157 regular-season games, 222 postseason contests (ninth all-time in NHL history) and made six trips to the Stanley Cup Final during his career.

 Draper, 40, was originally a third-round pick (62^nd overall) of the Winnipeg Jets in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.  He made his NHL debut with the Jets on October 4, 1990, scoring his first career goal and picking up his first fighting major in a 7-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.  The 5’11”, 190 lb. forward played 20 games for Winnipeg from 1990-91 through 1992-93 before the Jets traded him to Detroit on June 30, 1993 in exchange for future considerations.



May 8, 2008
Draper in the dressing room after a 4-1 win
over  Dallas in the 2008 Stanley Cup WCF
Photo by Jack Rosenberg / In Play! Magazine



Draper would spend the next 17 seasons donning the winged wheel in the Motor City.  He split time between Adirondack (AHL) and Detroit in 1993-94, but became a fixture in the Red Wings lineup during the second half of the season.  Recognized for his speed and relentless effort, he played the pivot on what became known as the ‘Grind Line’ with Kirk Maltby, Darren McCarty and, early on, Joe Kocur.  They formed one of the most revered lines in Red Wings history and played an integral role in helping Detroit end a 42-year drought by capturing the 1997 Stanley Cup with a sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers.  The ‘Grind Line’ was at it again in 1998, checking the top lines of opponents, killing penalties and wearing down opposing defenses en route to Detroit’s second consecutive title with a four-game sweep of the Washington Capitals.  Draper scored perhaps the biggest goal of his NHL career when he buried the game-winner at 4:36 of overtime in Game Two of the Stanley Cup Final against the Capitals that year.  Draper, Maltby and McCarty join Nicklas Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom as the only players to hoist the Cup in each of Detroit’s last four championships.



The Toronto, Ontario, native was effective again in a supporting role as the talent-laden 2001-02 Red Wings marched through the regular-season and playoffs to claim the 10^th Stanley Cup in franchise history.  Draper was one of three Red Wings to play in all 82 games that season and also suited up for all 23 postseason contests.  A penalty killer extraordinaire and face-off specialist, Draper continually supplied the Red Wings with all of the intangibles necessary to produce championship caliber teams.  This was a big reason he was named as an assistant captain prior to the 2006-07 season.


“Kris Draper has represented the Detroit Red Wings with nothing but class and dedication for the last 17 years,” said Red Wings general manager Ken Holland.  “His extraordinary work ethic has provided a great example for all players within our organization and his influence on the young players in our system will be felt for years to come.  I cannot thank Kris enough for all he has done for us.  He is a true professional.”



Scott Oak interviews Draper live on HNIC May 10, 2008
after 2-1 win over Dallas in the Stanley Cup WCF
Photo by Jack Rosenberg / In Play! Magazine

Draper enjoyed the best statistical season of his career in 2003-04.  He registered career-highs with 24 goals, 40 points and five shorthanded goals in just 67 games.  Despite the jump in his offensive production, his defensive responsibilities never wavered and Draper was rewarded with the 2004 Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward.



On February 2, 2009, Draper became just the 235^th player in NHL history to play in 1,000 career games when the Red Wings played host to the St. Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena.  Six weeks later on March 17 against Philadelphia, he became just the fifth player in team history to play 1,000 games in a Red Wings sweater, joining Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman and Lidstrom.  His postseason longevity is equally impressive.  Draper never missed the playoffs in his 17 years with Detroit and appeared in 220 postseason games for the Red Wings, second in club history behind Lidstrom (258).



Draper also found success at the international level throughout his career.  He represented his native Canada at numerous IIHF competitions including the World Junior Championships (1990-gold, 1991-gold), the World Championships (2003-gold, 2005-silver), the World Cup of Hockey (2004-gold) and the Olympic Winter Games (2006).

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RED WINGS SIGN FREE AGENT GOALIE TY CONKLIN TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

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…  Veteran Netminder has Appeared in 200 NHL Games …

Detroit, MI… Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland today announced that the club has signed free agent goaltender Ty Conklin to a one-year contract.  In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Conklin previously tended goal for Detroit during the 2008-09 season, during which he went 25-11-2 with a 2.51 G.A.A. and a .909 SV%. In addition to his time with the Red Wings, Conklin has suited up for the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers during his lengthy playing career. The 35-year-old native of Anchorage, Alaska has amassed a record of 91-61-4-16 in 200 total NHL appearances to go along with 16 shutouts, a 2.64 G.A.A. and a .908 SV%.

Prior to turning pro in 2001, Conklin spent three seasons with the University of New Hampshire (NCAA), winning 57 games in 93 appearances during his tenure with the Wildcats while registering a G.A.A of 2.17. The 6’0”, 184 lb. puck stopper was twice named a Hockey East First Team All-Star (2000, 2001) and was an NCAA East First Team All-American (2001) during his highly-successful collegiate career.

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RED WINGS GOALTENDER CHRIS OSGOOD RETIRES AFTER 17 NHL SEASONS

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...Three-Time Stanley Cup Champion Finishes Career 10^th All-Time with 401 Wins…

Detroit, MI... Chris Osgood, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, 1998 and 2008, announced today that he will retire from the National Hockey League after 17 seasons.  Osgood played in 744 career games with the Red Wings, New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues.  He finishes his career 4^th all-time among NHL goaltenders with 15 postseason shutouts, 8^th all-time with 74 playoff wins and 10^th all-time with 401 regular-season wins.

Osgood, 38, was Detroit’s third-round selection (54^th overall) in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.  He played his first NHL game on October 15, 1993 at Toronto and earned his first career victory just 12 days later with a 23-save performance in an 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings.  The Peace River, Alberta, native went on to play in 565 regular-season games over 14 seasons in Detroit, notching  317 wins and 39 shutouts in a Red Wings sweater, trailing only the legendary Terry Sawchuk in both categories (351 wins, 85 shutouts).  He is Detroit’s all-time leader in postseason appearances by a goaltender (110), and holds the franchise records for playoff wins (67) and playoff shutouts (14).

Osgood enjoyed a breakout season in 1995-96, his third NHL campaign.  The 5-10, 175 lb. netminder led the NHL with 39 wins and finished as the runner-up for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender (Jim Carey, Washington).  He played in his first NHL All-Star Game on January 20 in Boston and later that year became just the second goaltender in NHL history to shoot and score a goal, tallying into an empty net at the 19:49 mark of the third period in a 4-2 win over the Hartford Whalers on March 6.  He also won the 1996 William M. Jennings Trophy (with teammate Mike Vernon) allowing the fewest goals against in the NHL and was named a second team NHL All-Star. 

After watching Vernon lead Detroit to the 1997 Stanley Cup title with a win over the Philadelphia Flyers, Osgood would get his first taste of postseason success as a starting goaltender in 1998 when he backstopped the Red Wings to their second consecutive championship, appearing in 22 postseason games and finishing with a 16-6 record, a 2.12 GAA and two shutouts.  The Red Wings swept the Washington Capitals to lay claim to the ninth Stanley Cup in team history.

After eight seasons with the Red Wings, Osgood was placed on waivers following Detroit’s acquisition of goaltender Dominik Hasek from the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2001.  He was claimed by the New York Islanders and went on to play 103 games in an Islanders uniform over two seasons, posting a 49-39-10 record and collecting six shutouts. On March 11, 2003 the Islanders moved Osgood to St. Louis in a trade deadline deal.  He would play 76 games for the Blues, compiling a 35-28-10 record and five shutouts.

Osgood rejoined the Red Wings in the summer of 2005, signing with Detroit as a free-agent on August 8.  He served two seasons as a backup upon his return, first to Manny Legace and then to Hasek, before leading the NHL with a 2.09 GAA in 2007-08 and being named the starting goaltender for the Western Conference at the 2008 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta.  He combined with Hasek to win his second William M. Jennings Trophy that year, but despite his stellar regular-season, Osgood once again found himself in the backup role when the 2008 playoffs began.  He proved ready when called upon in Game 4 of Detroit’s first-round series against the Nashville Predators and with the series tied 2-2, was named the starter for a crucial Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena.  Osgood helped Detroit string together nine consecutive victories and the crafty veteran would go on to post a 14-4 record, a sparkling 1.55 GAA and three shutouts over the course of the 2008 postseason.  Detroit defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the Stanley Cup Final and Osgood captured the third title of his career.

After a subpar regular-season in 2008-09, Osgood would once again save his best for last, leading Detroit to within a game of the Stanley Cup as the Red Wings dropped a rematch with the Penguins in seven games.  He finished the 2009 postseason with a 15-8 record, 2.01 GAA and two shutouts.

Last season, Osgood became the 10^th goaltender in NHL history to record 400 wins with an acrobatic 46-save performance in a 4-3 OT win over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.  He would play in what proved to be his final NHL game on January 4, 2011, making 22 saves in a 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place.

Osgood will remain with the Red Wings organization in a yet to be named position within the team’s front office.  In his new role, Osgood will be responsible for the development of young goaltenders within Detroit’s system, as well as scouting netminders throughout the professional, junior and college ranks.

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RED WINGS PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER KEN DANIELS WINS DSBA'S TY TYSON AWARD

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The Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association (DSBA) is pleased to announce today the winner of its special individual award.

Ken Daniels, play-by-play voice of the Detroit Red Wings on Fox Sports Detroit is the winner of the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting for work in the sports year 2010-2011.

'We are so honored that Ken Daniels has won this year's Ty Tyson Award,' said DSBA President Will Tieman. 'Ken has demonstrated outstanding play-by-play professionalism not only this past season but throughout his long and distinguished career.'

Added George Eichorn, DSBA Executive Director: 'Ken's award is well-deserved. He has successfully guided the work of so many professionals in our business. The DSBA congratulates him.'
Previous Ty Tyson Award winners are:

•2009-10 - Frank Beckmann/U-M Football & WJR
•2008 - Dan Dickerson/Tigers
•2007 - Ken Kal/Red Wings
•2006 - Jim Brandstatter, Lions/U-M Football
•2005 - Budd Lynch, Red Wings Hockey
•2004 - Mark Champion, Lions Football
•2003 - Ray Lane, Tigers/Lions/Red Wings/Big Ten
•2002 - George Blaha, Pistons/MSU Football
•2001 - Ernie Harwell, Tigers Baseball
•2000 - Josh Lewin, Tigers Baseball

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RED WINGS AND GOALTENDER JOEY MACDONALD AGREE TO TERMS ON TWO-YEAR DEAL

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...Veteran Netminder Has Played in 87 Career NHL Games…

Detroit, MI... Detroit Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland announced today the club has agreed to terms with goaltender Joey MacDonald on a two-year contract.  In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

MacDonald, 31, appeared in 15 games for Detroit last season, posting a 5-5-3 record with a career-best 2.58 GAA and a .917 SV%. He notched his second career shutout with a sparkling 37-save performance in a 2-0 win at Columbus on March 17. A backup to both Jimmy Howard and Chris Osgood in 2010-11, MacDonald made 74 saves on 76 shots (.974 SV%) in six relief appearances for the Red Wings.  He also played in 20 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) last season, finishing with a 10-9-1 record, 2.78 GAA and .894 SV%.

MacDonald was originally signed as a free agent by Detroit on December 21, 2001.  The Pictou, Nova Scotia, native has appeared in 87 career NHL games with the Red Wings (23), Boston Bruins (7), New York Islanders (51) and Toronto Maple Leafs (6).  He holds several Grand Rapids team records including most career wins (98), most career shutouts (17) and best SV% in a single season (.936 in 2003-04).  MacDonald and fellow Griffin netminder, Marc Lamothe, won the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Trophy in 2002-03 allowing the fewest goals against in the AHL that season.

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RED WINGS PROSPECTS TO SCRIMMAGE IN TRAVERSE CITY

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…  Team Lidstrom and Team Zetterberg Square Off on Sunday Afternoon at 3:00 p.m. …

Detroit, MI… The Detroit Red Wings today announced that the itinerary for Day 4 (Sunday, July 10) of the team’s Development Camp in Traverse City, Mich. will now include a scrimmage pitting Team Lidstrom against Team Zetterberg. Sunday’s intrasquad battle featuring several veteran Red Wings prospects as well as recent draft picks and free agent camp invitees will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Centre Ice Arena. Fans wishing to attend the match are able to purchase tickets for $5 apiece at the rink’s main entrance. Tomorrow’s morning practices (8:30 – 11:30 a.m.) are also open to the public. The rosters for the two teams of Red Wings Development Camp attendees set to hit the ice on Sunday can be found below:

TEAM LIDSTROM

Goalies: Thomas McCollum, Tyson Teichmann

Defensemen: Brendan Smith, Adam Almqvist, Danny Dekeyser, Max Nicastro, Richard Nedomlel, Ryan Sproul, Brad Walch

Forwards: Brent Raedeke, Gustav Nyquist, Trevor Parkes, Willie Coetzee, Landon Ferraro, Nick Oslund, Adam Estoclet, Dean Chelios, Julian Cayer, Casey Fraser

TEAM ZETTERBERG

Goalies: Petr Mrazek, Evan Mosher

Defensemen: Brian Lashoff, Sebastien Piche, Travis Ehrhardt, Nick Jensen, Brian Rufenbach, Xavier Ouellet, Artem Sergeev, Jake Chelios

Forwards: Tomas Jurco, Louis-Marc Aubry, Mitch Callahan, Travis Novak, Brooks Macek, Alan Quine, Marek Tvrdon, Philippe Hudon, Zach Franko, Jesse Fraser

The Red Wings’ 2011 Prospect Development Camp will continue next week with on/off-ice sessions taking place in Traverse City Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (8:30 – 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.). This year’s camp wraps up on Thursday, July 14 with another intrasquad scrimmage as well as a skills competition (8:30 – 10:00 a.m.). More information on Traverse City’s Centre Ice Arena can be obtained by visiting http://www.centreice.org/.

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RED WINGS NAME NEW COACHING STAFF

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 BILL PETERS AND JEFF BLASHILL

 …Highly-Experienced Coaches Each Sign Three-Year Contracts…

Detroit, MI… Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland announced today that the team has hired Bill Peters and Jeff Blashill as Assistant Coaches. Both gentlemen have signed three-year contracts. As per club policy, no further details on either of these deals will be disclosed.

“To succeed in the National Hockey League, you constantly have to try and stay ahead of your opponents’ systems and strategies,” said Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock.  “In looking to fill our coaching staff, I wanted successful and innovative coaches that would challenge us with new ideas in order to continually help the Red Wings become a better hockey team.  I’m very happy to welcome Jeff Blashill and Bill Peters to the Red Wings coaching staff.”

Peters, 46, spent the past three seasons as the Head Coach of the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) where he amassed a record of 122-97-7-14 in addition to a pair of Calder Cup Playoff appearances. Prior to his tenure with the IceHogs, Peters led the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs to the 2008 Memorial Cup title as champions of the Canadian Hockey League in the final season of his second stint with the team. Peters also was a member of Babcock’s staff in Spokane in the late 1990’s prior to coaching the University of Lethbridge Hurricanes (CIS) for three seasons. The Three Hills, Alberta, native also has impressive international credentials, having served as Head Coach of the Gold Medal-winning Team Canada at the 2008 U-18 Junior World Cup.

Blashill, 37, spent the 2010-11 season behind the bench at Western Michigan University where he led the Broncos to their first berth in the CCHA Championship Game since 1986 after turning in a 19-13-10 regular season record and defeating the top-ranked University of Michigan Wolverines 5-2 in the tournament semifinals at Joe Louis Arena. For his efforts, Blashill was a finalist for the CCHA Coach of the Year Award and was named National Coach of the Year by College Hockey News, USCHO.com and Inside College Hockey. The Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, native has previously served as Head Coach and General Manager of the USHL’s Indiana Ice, with whom he captured a Clark Cup title as league champions in 2009. Prior to his two-year stint with the Ice, Blashill served as an Assistant Coach at Miami University from 2002-08 and at Ferris State, his alma mater, from 1998-2002. The former goaltender and father of three has been a member of Team USA’s coaching staff three times – at the 2009 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge, the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championships and the 2006 U-18 Junior World Cup.

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RED WINGS CHRIS CONNER TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

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…  Former Michigan Tech Star and Westland Native has Skated

in 139 Career NHL Games with Pittsburgh and Dallas …

Detroit, MI… Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland today announced that the club has signed free agent forward Chris Conner to a one-year contract.  In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Conner has registered 16G-24A-40P in 139 career NHL games as a member of the Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old native of Westland, Mich. originally began his professional hockey career in 2006 with the Iowa Stars (AHL) after spending four seasons with the Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA) during which he tallied 69G-60A-129P in 151 games played. Conner has recorded 72G-102A-174P in 218 appearances at the AHL level with Iowa, Peoria and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. 

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RED WINGS SIGN D-MEN LOGAN PYETT AND GARNET EXELBY TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS

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…  Both Players Skated in the American Hockey League Last Season  …

Detroit, MI… The Detroit Red Wings today announced that defensemen Logan Pyett and Garnet Exelby have both signed one-year contracts with the team. As per club policy, no further details on either of these deals will be disclosed.

Pyett, 23, has spent the past three seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) where he has tallied 21G-45A-66P-91PIM in 215 games played. Originally selected by Detroit in the seventh round (212^th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Pyett helped Team Canada win Gold at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championships in the midst of a highly-successful major junior career during which he registered 273GP-49G-137A-186P-294PIM for his hometown Regina Pats. In his final season with the Pats (2007-08), the 5’10”, 200-lb. rearguard was named a Canadian Hockey League Second Team All-Star after leading Regina to a WHL East Division title while scoring 20 goals and dishing out 34 assists to finish with 54 points in addition to a +24 rating in 62 appearances.  

Exelby, 29, brings over 600 games worth of professional hockey experience to the Red Wings organization, having previously played for the Atlanta Thrashers (NHL) and Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) as well as the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and Rockford IceHogs (AHL). The 6’1”, 215-lb. blue-liner was selected by the Thrashers in the seventh round (217^th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and has gone on to register 7G-43A-50P-584PIM in 408 career NHL games. A native of Ste. Anne, Manitoba, Exelby spent the 2010-11 campaign with the IceHogs where he recorded 77GP-3G-10A-13P-128PIM to go along with a rating of +7.

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Red Wings Sign Mike Commodore, Defense Still In Shambles

By AJ Petronzi
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Detroit Red Wings fans should be concerned about the Wing’s defense this coming season. With five defenseman under contract, only three Wings defenseman should be trusted.

It appears that Ken Holland spent most of his free agency day retaining his own free agents. Detroit quickly signed Jonathan Ericsson and Patrick Eaves for three years each, then followed up by retaining Drew Miller for another two years. But the big news is that the Wings have signed Mike Commodore to add more to their defensive core.

With one defensive slot still open, will Detroit decide to find a real replacement for Brian Rafalski or continue to put their hopes on games of chance. Jonathan Ericsson is seeing roughly a two million dollar raise, so is Holland’s hope that Ericsson steps up and becomes a top four defenseman? I hope not. Is the right hand shooting Commodore Rafalski’s replacement? That’d be an even larger nightmare. Let’s hope Holland still has some tricks up his sleeve, because the only way Detroit’s going to find a true top four defenseman at this point is through a trade.

 Biggest Winner: The rest of the Central Division. The Wing’s defense has gotten a little bigger, a little grittier and a lot cheaper but they’ll have to hope Jimmy Howard has a great year, because he’s not going to get much help from the defense this year.

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There's a New Wing in Town and His Name is...

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RED WINGS AND DEFENSEMAN MIKE COMMODORE

AGREE TO TERMS ON A ONE-YEAR DEAL

...Veteran Blue-liner Captured Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006…

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

Commodore, 31, was originally a second-round pick (#42 overall) of the New Jersey Devils in the 1999 National Hockey League Entry Draft.  He spent the past three seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, splitting time in 2010-11 between Columbus (20 games) and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons (11 games).  The Fort Saskatchewan, AB, native has played in 454 career games for the Devils, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes and Blue Jackets during his 10-year NHL career.  Commodore’s career totals include 23 goals, 81 assists, 104 points and 645 penalty minutes.  The 6-4, 225-lb. defenseman has also appeared in 53 career postseason games.  He went to his first Stanley Cup Final as a member of the Calgary Flames in 2004.  The Flames lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Commodore would return to the Final again in 2006 and helped the Carolina Hurricanes capture hockey’s ultimate prize with a seven-game series win over the Edmonton Oilers.

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Red Wings Withdrawal Contract Offer for Jaromir Jagr

By AJ Petronzi
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Jaromir Jagr’s return to the NHL won’t be in either Pittsburgh or Detroit, the early front runners, as both teams have withdrawn the offers they’d made to the 39 year old earlier in the week.

The Red Wing’s withdrawal leaves one question, “Was no one interested in a trade for Jiri Hudler?” Although there’s been no talk about this, it’s an obvious reality that signing Jagr would have forced the Wings to cut ties with a top six wing. Valtteri Filppula is too valuable as a center, so he wouldn’t be an option. That left Hudler, meaning parting with one Czech for another. But if no one was interested in taking on Hudler, who proved more of a liability last season than an asset with his 2.5 million dollar price tag, he would have been too costly to buy out. So Jagr will not lace up in the D this season.

 
Biggest Possible Winner: Kris Draper. Draper’s future has been in limbo ever since Ken Holland announced the Wings were interested in Jagr. But now that the Wings aren’t interested, could Draper’s name be next on the Wings draft day signing sheet

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Red Wings Signing Deals and Takin' Names

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RED WINGS AND FORWARD PATRICK EAVES

AGREE TO TERMS ON THREE-YEAR DEAL

...Veteran Grinder to Remain in Hockeytown Through 2013-14…

Detroit... Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland today announced the club has agreed to terms with forward Patrick Eaves on a three-year contract.  In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Eaves, 27, was originally a first round pick (29^th overall) of the Ottawa Senators in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft.  He spent his first four NHL campaigns playing for the Senators and Carolina Hurricanes before signing with Detroit for the start of the 2009-10 season.  In two seasons with the Red Wings, he has appeared in 128 games, registering 25 goals and 17 assists for 42 points, and has become an integral part of Detroit’s penalty-killing unit.  In 370 career NHL games, Eaves has 70 goals and 62 assists for 132 points.

Eaves was a finalist for the 2005 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top player in college hockey.  He played three seasons with the Boston College Eagles of Hockey East from 2002-03 through 2004-05.

RED WINGS AND DEFENSEMAN JONATHAN ERICSSON

AGREE TO TERMS ON THREE-YEAR DEAL

...New Contract Keeps Swedish Blue-liner in Detroit Through 2013-14 Season…

Detroit, MI... Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Jonathan Ericsson on a three-year contract.  In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ericsson, 27, appeared in a career-high 74 games for the Red Wings last season, finishing with a career-best 15 points (3-12-15) and leading the team with 87 PIM.  He also tied for the team lead with three fighting majors.  Ericsson has played in 163 career NHL games, registering nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points and 150 PIM.  In 45 postseason contests with Detroit, he has 13 points (5-8-13) and 37 PIM.

“Jonathan Ericsson has made significant strides with us over the last three years,” said Holland.  “We believe in his abilities, we like the physical dimension that he brings to our team and we look for his continued progression as a player over the next few seasons as he enters into the prime of his career.”

Ericsson was Detroit’s ninth-round selection in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft.  He was the final player chosen at 291^st overall.  The Karlskrona, Sweden, native began his North American professional career with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2006-07.  He spent nearly two full seasons in Grand Rapids before making his NHL debut with the Red Wings on February 22, 2008, at Calgary.  He returned to Grand Rapids for 40 games the following season, before being recalled permanently by Detroit in 2009.  Ericsson appeared in the final 19 games for the Red Wings that season, registering four points (1-3-4) and 15 PIM.  His strong play continued into the 2009 postseason as he scored the game-winning goal in his playoff debut on April 16 vs. Columbus.  The 6-4, 220-pound rearguard appeared in 22 of 23 postseason games during Detroit’s run to the 2009 Stanley Cup Final, missing only one game in the Western Conference Finals vs. Chicago due to an emergency appendectomy.  Following the 2008-09 season, Ericsson was named the winner of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Rookie of the Year Award.

RED WINGS SIGN DREW MILLER

TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT

…  Former Michigan State Spartan Appeared

in 67 Games with Detroit last Season …

Detroit, MI… Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland today announced that the club has agreed to terms with veteran forward Drew Miller on a two-year contract.  In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Miller skated in 67 games for the Red Wings last season, matching a career-high by netting 10 goals while dishing out 8 assists to finish the 2010-11 campaign with 18 points, 11 of which (6G-5A) were registered in his 18 intradivisional contests.  The 27-year-old native of Dover, N.J., also led all Detroit forwards in blocked shots last season with 58.

Originally selected by Anaheim in the sixth round (186^th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Miller has recorded 26G-26A-52P-48PIM in 200 career games as a member of the Ducks, Lightning and Red Wings. Detroit acquired the 6’2”, 170-lb. right winger’s rights on a waiver wire claim from Tampa Bay on November 11, 2009. Prior to commencing his professional hockey career, Miller starred with the Michigan State Spartans for three seasons (2003-06), tallying 39G-47A-86P-18PIM in 125 total CCHA appearances. The Spartans named Miller their team M.V.P. upon the conclusion of his final collegiate season of 2005-06.

RED WINGS AND DEFENSEMAN IAN WHITE

AGREE TO TERMS ON A TWO-YEAR DEAL

Detroit, MI... Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with defenseman Ian White.  In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

White, 27, was originally a sixth round-round pick (#191 overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft.  He spent two seasons in the Western Hockey League and three in the American Hockey League before making his NHL debut with Toronto in the 2005-06 season.  He was acquired by Calgary prior to the 2010 trade deadline, was traded to Carolina in November of 2010 and traded again prior to the 2011 trade deadline to San Jose where he spent the past two seasons. 

The Steinbach, Manitoba native has played in 401 regular season NHL games and saw his first Stanley Cup Playoff action in 2011 with San Jose.  White appeared in 17 playoff contests this year, tallying nine points on one goal and eight assists.  His firs career playoff goal came against the Red Wings in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

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