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DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman Ben Chiarot to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $4.75 million.

Chiarot, 31, split the 2021-22 season between the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens, recording a career-high 26 points (9-17-26) while accumulating 48 penalty minutes in 74 games. The 6-foot-3, 234-pound blueliner notched eight points (2-6-8), a plus-four rating and six penalty minutes in 20 regular-season games after being acquired by the Panthers from the Canadiens on March 16. Additionally, Chiarot posted an assist and eight penalty minutes in 10 postseason appearances for the Panthers. The Hamilton, Ont., native reached the 2021 Stanley Cup Final in his second season with the Canadiens, adding two points (1-1-2) and 16 penalty minutes in 22 games.
Originally selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Chiarot has compiled 118 points (31-87-118) and 351 penalty minutes in 489 NHL contests with the Panthers, Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets since 2013-14. He has also posted eight points (1-7-8) and 53 penalty minutes in 66 career postseason games. Chiarot made his professional debut with the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves during the 2009-10 campaign and logged 43 points (12-31-43), a plus-17 rating and 221 penalty minutes in 169 AHL games with the Wolves and St. John's IceCaps, in addition to 13 points (6-7-13) and 13 penalty minutes in 24 appearances with the ECHL's Colorado Eagles in 2011-12. Prior to turning professional, Chiarot played in the Ontario Hockey League with the Guelph Storm, Sudbury Wolves and Saginaw Spirit from 2007-11, racking up 70 points (20-50-70), a plus-seven rating and 405 penalty minutes in 229 games.