The Red Wings snagged the one unrestricted free agent I’d hoped they’d target, 25-year-old sniper Pius Suter:
The Score’s John Matisz reported it first…
Hearing Pius Suter is close to signing a multi-year deal with the Red Wings.— John Matisz (@MatiszJohn) July 28, 2021
Update: At a fair price…
Pius Suter ended up making a decision quicker than he thought. He gets a two-year deal with Detroit at $3.25M AAV.— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 28, 2021
And the Red Wings soon confirmed it:
UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today agreed to terms with center Pius Suter on a two-year contract. pic.twitter.com/2LLsXycHFj— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 28, 2021
Wrote about Suter’s fit in Detroit Monday night: https://t.co/IdfB7wQbHN https://t.co/yH3YpoTLb0— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) July 28, 2021
Detroit signs Pius Suter to a 2-year contract— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 28, 2021
Suter had a hat trick against the #RedWings on Jan. 24. Had 5-1-6 in 8 games vs. DRW. https://t.co/0EP4CYSO8w— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) July 28, 2021
As soon as @m_bultman let us know that Pius Suter wasn’t qualified, I wanted the Wings to sign him. He was dominant against Detroit, at least, and he’s a fine goal-scorer and superb all-round forward.
Now the Wings have him. Brilliant signing.— George Malik (@georgemalik) July 28, 2021
And, as some of you have noted, Pius Suter played with Bertuzzi and Fabbri in Guelph of the OHL.— George Malik (@georgemalik) July 28, 2021
#RedWings under yzerman:
STEALTHY!
no one broke signing of pius suter until they did.— gregg krupa (@greggkrupa) July 28, 2021
Suter played two seasons at Guelph with Tyler Bertuzzi. Wasn’t drafted and played 5-plus seasons in his native Switzerland before signing with Blackhawks last year. https://t.co/WtTBWzvBc7— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) July 28, 2021
Puis Suter is an intriguing player still out there. Not sure the #Blackhawks felt like he’d be able to match his production with Toews and Dach returning for full season.— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) July 28, 2021
I’m sure you all remember Puis Suter’s first career hat trick last season, yes against the @DetroitRedWings. Happy he’ll be in the Winged Wheel for his next one? Excited about this one! #LGRW— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) July 28, 2021
Had 14 goals, 27 points in 55 games as rookie with Blackhawks. Wasn’t qualified. 5-11, 179 center, shoots left. https://t.co/pRrCEsfmeA— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) July 28, 2021
The Detroit Red Wings signed center Pius Suter to a two-year contract on Wednesday.
Suter, 25, tallied 14 goals and 27 points in 55 games as a rookie with the Chicago Blackhawks, including a hat trick against the Red Wings on Jan. 24.
But the Blackhawks declined to make him a qualifying offer, so he became an unrestricted free agent.
The left-shooting Suter (5-11, 176) played junior hockey for OHL Guelph, where he was a teammate with Detroit’s Tyler Bertuzzi for two seasons.
Suter wasn’t drafted and wound up playing five-plus seasons in his native Switzerland before signing with Chicago.
Pius Suter, signed 2x$3.25M by DET, had very good 2nd line results in 2nd line minutes as a rookie last season. Produced decently as well. Worth a shot. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/1k0DjIE00H— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 28, 2021
Via @FriedgeHNIC https://t.co/qKa1nBEz7e— George Malik (@georgemalik) July 28, 2021
Pius Suter has signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings at a cap hit of $3.25 million.— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) July 28, 2021
Like Pius Suter. He had a hat trick vs Detroit last season. Always seemed to be dangerous. Age 25, 14g 13a
Swiss player. Not many holes in his game.— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) July 28, 2021
WDIV’s David Bartkowiak Jr. confirms:
Suter, 25, is a native of Switzerland where he played several seasons with Zurich SC of the Swiss-A pro league. Then he signed as an undrafted free agent last year with the Chicago Blackhawks.
He scored 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 55 games with the Blackhawks. Now he’s heading to Detroit where he may have the chance to reconnect with former Guelph Storm (OHL) teammates Tyler Bertuzzi, Givani Smith and Robby Fabbri.
Suter collected his first three goals in his sixth NHL game back in January against the Red Wings. The Blackhawks won, 6-2.
Update: Here’s the press release:
RED WINGS AGREE TO TERMS WITH CENTER PIUS SUTER
… Swiss Native Ranked Fifth Among NHL Rookies in Goals …DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today agreed to terms with center Pius Suter on a two-year contract.
Suter, 25, appeared in 55 games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2020-21, ranking among team leaders with 14 goals (4th), 13 assists (6th), 27 points (4th), three game-winning goals (T2nd), 112 shots (4th), 34 blocked shots (6th) and 27 takeaways (7th) in 16:20 average time on ice (4th, forwards). Suter also ranked among NHL rookie leaders in goals (5th), assists (T10th) and points (T6th). His season highlights included his first career hat trick – and first three career NHL goals – in his sixth NHL game on Jan. 24 vs. Detroit. Prior to the start of the NHL season, Suter combined for 10 points (4-6-10) in 12 games with the ZSC Lions in Switzerland’s National League and with the GC Kusnacht Lions in second-tier Switzerland.
The native of Zurich, Switzerland, played the previous five seasons in his home country, totaling 173 points (83-90-173), a plus-69 rating and 82 penalty minutes in 216 National League games with ZSC from 2015-20. He earned an NHL contract as an undrafted free agent after capturing most-valuable player honors with the Lions in which he led the league in goals and points with 53 points (30-23-53) in 50 games in 2019-20. He helped ZSC to a league championship in 2017-18 and was named to the media’s all-star team.
Suter had previous North American experience with the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm, where he was a teammate of Red Wings forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Robby Fabbri from 2013-15. With the Storm, Suter amassed 96 points (52-44-96), a plus-41 rating and 44 penalty minutes in 127 games over two seasons, in addition to contributing 13 points (9-4-13), a plus-10 rating and 12 penalty minutes in 29 postseason games. Suter helped Guelph to an OHL championship in 2014, and finished second to Bertuzzi the following season with 72 points (43-29-72) in 61 games. Suter has represented his country extensively on the international stage, tying for the team lead with five points (3-2-5) in four games at the 2018 Winter Olympics and notching six points (5-1-6) over 12 games in back-to-back appearances at the 2015 and 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Update #3 or 4 or something: Here’s Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff on Suter:
Suter provides Detroit with another forward who can contribute offensively and play among their top six. Among NHL rookies, he was fifth in goals and sixth in points. He was tied for third in even-strength goals (13) and fifth in even-strength points (24) among first-year players.
He is known for his high hockey IQ and his extreme compete level. Suter earned a reputation as a strong two-way forward playing for ZSC Lions in the National League-A in his native Switerzland. Suter led all scorers with 30 goals and 53 points in 2019-20, earning both league MVP honors and a free-agent pact with the Blackhawks.
The five-foot-11, 176-pound Suter returned home to play after two seasons with the OHL’s Guelph Storm, where his teammates included current Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi.
In 2015-16, his first season with Zurich, Suter was teammates with Auston Matthews, selected first overall in the 2016 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
PIUS PIUS‼️ #LGRW pic.twitter.com/BhIZnHqKcR— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 28, 2021
Was really rooting for this signing myself George. Right age and only two years just in case.
Love what Yzerman has done this offseason. We’ll still suck (especially trying to score) and have a chance at the Shane Wright lottery, but at least the team will be younger and fun to watch.