The Detroit Red Wings kept two potential free agents off the market by signing forward Drew Miller and defenseman Jakub Kindl to multiyear deals.
The Red Wings announced Saturday they have signed Miller to a three-year contract through the 2015-16 season and Kindl to a four-year deal that will expire following the 2016-17 campaign. No financial figures were released, but MLive.com reports Miller's contract will pay him $4.05 million, an average annual value of $1.35 million per season. Multiple media reports say Kindl's deal is worth $2.4 million per season.
Miller, who could have become an unrestricted free agent next week, was a standout at Michigan State and wanted to stay in his home state. The 29-year-old fourth-line forward and penalty-killer scored four goals, including a pair of game-winners, in 44 games during the 2012-13 season. He had a game-winning goal and an assist in six playoff games for Detroit after returning from a broken right hand.
Kindl, a 26-year-old from the Czech Republic, could have become a restricted free agent on July 5 after a season in which he scored four goals and had 13 points and a plus-15 rating in 41 games. He had a goal and four assists while playing in all 14 of Detroit's playoff games.
His signing means the Red Wings have seven NHL defensemen under contract, leaving Brendan Smith as the only unsigned blueliner. He is eligible to be an RFA on Friday, as are forwards Gustav Nyqust and Joakim Andersson. Center Valtteri Filppula and forwards Daniel Cleary and Damien Brunner can become unrestricted free agents Friday.
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.