This afternoon, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses the reasons why the Red Wings’ free agent signings and offseason trade acquisitions chose to come to Detroit:
The team may have fallen on hard times in recent years, but the legacy that the Red Wings wove through most of the 1990s and though the first decade of the 2000s still carries gravitas with today’s players.
“I think there’s a lot that attracted me to being a Red Wing,” forward J.T. Compher said. “First off, playing in Michigan (for the Wolverines) and growing up in Chicago, both things helped me see the great legacy and tradition the Red Wings have. I have a lot of respect for the organization.
“I had some really good talks with Steve and the coaching staff on what they’re trying to build, how they’re trying to build it. In terms of this year and the future, it sounds like a great place to play hockey.”
It was that latter aspect the also ending up drawing defenseman Justin Holl to Detroit.
“One of the things that was appealing to me was what the roster looks like,” Holl said. “I know in terms of playing against them last year there’s a lot of good pieces and there’s a lot of promise in this group. I think we have a chance to do something special.”
