Per the Detroit Red Wings:
DETROIT SIGNS HRONEK TO THREE-YEAR CONTRACT
… Defenseman Leads Red Wings Blueliners in Scoring Since 2018-19 …DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today re-signed defenseman Filip Hronek to a three-year contract.
Hronek, 23, completed his third NHL season with the Red Wings in 2020-21 and totaled a team-best 26 points (2-24-26) in 56 games as one of just two players, along with Marc Staal, to play in every game last season. Hronek also led Detroit in assists, power-play points (11) and average time on ice (23:23), while ranking second in shots (114), fifth in hits (67) and sixth in blocked shots (46). Since making his NHL debut during the 2018-19 season, Hronek is Detroit’s highest-scoring defenseman, totaling 80 points (16-64-80) in 167 games. The Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, native began the 2020-21 campaign with his hometown club in the Czech Extraliga, racking up 23 points (10-13-23) and 18 penalty minutes in 22 games. Hronek finished the season representing his country at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, serving as an alternate captain and contributing four points (1-3-4) in seven games for the Czech national team.
Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Hronek previously spent parts of three seasons with the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins, racking up 65 points (19-46-65), a plus-25 rating and 93 penalty minutes in 108 games with the team from 2016-19. He also earned a spot on the 2018 AHL All-Rookie Team in his first full AHL campaign. Prior to turning professional, Hronek spent one season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit, where he was named an OHL Third-Team All-Star after tallying 61 points (14-47-61) in 59 games. Hronek has represented the Czech Republic extensively on the international circuit, including an appearance at the 2019 IIHF World Championship where he led the tournament’s defensemen in scoring and was named Best Defenseman, in addition to recording six points (2-4-6) in 10 games combined between the 2016 and 2017 IIHF World Junior Championships.
UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today re-signed defenseman Filip Hronek to a three-year contract. pic.twitter.com/mOqAzYXzog— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 3, 2021
3 MORE YEARS! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/NmqvGPfUSO— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 3, 2021
The Free Press’s Ryan Ford and MLive’s Ansar Khan are confirming.
Hronek’s agent, Allan Walsh, confirms:
Congrats to client Filip Hronek on signing a 3 year contract with Detroit. @ehshockey @OctagonHockey https://t.co/arz8GOjtAB— Allan Walsh (@walsha) September 3, 2021
Update: Here’s the Average Annual Value:
$4.4M https://t.co/TxoLEEIxci— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 3, 2021
Congrats Fil #SpiritAlum? https://t.co/lFWTKYiPrR— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) September 3, 2021
Filip Hronek, signed 3x$4.4M by DET, is a young defenceman who in the past two seasons has played big, tough minutes that he’s not ready for. Struggles tremendously to defend his blueline and move the puck out of his zone without turning it over. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/YQe10DCfaE— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) September 3, 2021
Here’s the other important part, per Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff:
The last remaining player to be signed by the Wings for the upcoming season is forward Givani Smith. He’s a restricted free agent. The Wings still have $14.2 million in available cap space.
Also, per the Free Press’s Ryan Ford:
The $4.4 million cap hit for Hronek will be the fifth-highest for the Wings next season, behind Larkin ($6.1 million), Leddy ($5.5 million), forward Jakub Vrana ($5.25 million), DeKeyser ($5 million) and forward Tyler Bertuzzi ($4.75 million).
Hronek spent the end of the 2020 calendar year playing with HK Hradec Kralove in his native Czech Republic while waiting for the pandemic-delayed NHL season to begin in 2021. While in Europe, he posted 10 goals and 13 assists in 22 games, with a plus-15 rating. After the Wings’ season was over, Hronek joined the Czech team at the 2021 IIHF worlds in Latvia, where he had a goal and three assists.
The #RedWings re-signed RFA Hronek to 3 year 4.4M Cap Hit Deal:
Yr 1 2.7M Salary + 500K signing Bonus
Yr 2 4.5M Salary
Yr 3 5.5M Salary
On expiry will be RFA with $5.28M Qualifying Offer
Rep’d by Allan Walsh @OctagonHockey https://t.co/ZVRW008Kvp— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 3, 2021
Only 23 yrs old, I would not have objected he got more. Their best DMan taking into consideration under 30. Seider will be right up with Hronek and form a great pair, Left or Right, adjust. 1st and 2nd PP. DeK will never play a full season again. Some AHL players may get a wake up call from Seider if they don’t read European articles.
Even a year in GR leaves him 20 and Hronek 24. The base of the Futur D for a lot of years. I really like their age!
Glad that he is secured for a while. Only one left unsigned is Smith. Is ice getting crowded? Eighteen forwards and eight or ten defenders and two goalies.
Grand Rapids is going to be STACKED this season.
Is the 4 Player Taxi squad still in place?