Depth signing or something more?
Patrik Nemeth is heading to the #RedWings on a two-year deal with a nice raise from the $2.5 million he made last year.— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2019
Meanwhile…
#RedWings quiet thus far…and given the money that supposedly will be doled out today, you can understand why.— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) July 1, 2019
Nemeth is 28 and played this past season for the Colorado Avalanche, posting 1 goal and 9 assists in 74 games played. He’s 6’3″ and 219 pounds and shoots left.
The Athletic’s Max Bultman weighs in:
LRT: Nemeth would give the Red Wings a bit of veteran cover for next summer, when all their vets except Danny DeKeyser come off the books.— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) July 1, 2019
As Seravalli noted, Nemeth earned $2.5 million this past season, per CapFriendly.
Update: Here’s the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:
Nemeth, 27, played in 74 games last season in Colorado, with 10 points (one goal, nine assists), and was plus-5, with 53 penalty minutes.
In seven playoff games, Nemeth didn’t register a point, but was a plus-4.
Nemeth has played 250 games in the NHL, with four goals and 35 assists (39 points), is plus-24, with 134 penalty minutes.
The Wings wanted to add veteran depth on defense, given the uncertainty surrounding Niklas Kronwall, who might retire. In addition, Trevor Daley, Jonathan Ericsson and Mike Green are all on the last year of their contracts and are coming off injury-plagued seasons.
Ironically, it was Nemeth who hit Dylan Larkin in a game in December, which led to Anthony Mantha sticking up for Larkin and getting into a fight with Nemeth, and Mantha suffered a broken hand.
The Wings are also expected to sign depth goaltender Calvin Pickard on Monday, adding a third veteran goaltender to the organization.
