The Detroit Red Wings are emerging as one of the biggest winners on the first day of free agency.
Forward Andrew Copp, who is a Michigan native, was the first to sign with Detroit. His deal with the Wings is for five years and $28.125 million ($5.625 million annually).
Copp split the 2021-2022 season between the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers, but that didn’t stop him from setting new career-highs across the board offensively. The 28-year-old posted 21 goals and 32 assists for a total of 53 points.
In the postseason with the Rangers, Copp recorded an additional 14 points (six goals and eight assists) in 20 games as they reached the Eastern Conference Final.
The Detroit Red Wings are having a huge first day of free agency.
Later in the day, defenseman Ben Chiarot signed a four-year contract worth $4.75 million per season. The 31-year-old blueliner posted a career-high 26 points last season with the Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers.
He was a member of the Canadiens team that shocked the hockey world by reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, and that experience will be a tremendous asset to this young Red Wings team.
The next big move for Detroit came in the form of Dominik Kubalik. The 26-year-old has three NHL seasons under his belt, all with the Chicago Blackhawks.
While his output has decreased over the last several seasons, his 46-point career-high gives him high upside for the Wings, especially on a two-year deal worth $2.5 million per season.
The third forward officially added to the mix is David Perron, who recorded 57 points (27 goals and 30 assists) in 67 games with the St. Louis Blues last season. His contract will be for two years and $4.75 million per year.
It also appears as though the Red Wings have a deal in place with defenseman Olli Maatta, which would be another quality acquisition for this team.
Red Wings finalizing 1 year, $2.25 mil deal with Olli Maatta.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 13, 2022
The Red Wings, like the Ottawa Senators, are in a position where years of rebuilding are ready to pay off. Detroit wasted no time on Wednesday taking advantage of the prominent group of skaters available this summer, and this club should be in the mix for a playoff spot this year.
With more moves potentially still to come in the Motor City, the Red Wings are quickly becoming a team that cannot be counted out in the Eastern Conference.