… Both Players Skated in the American Hockey League Last Season …
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 (212th 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 (217th 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.