I was very surprised when I read that the Red Wings weren’t speaking with 22-year-old Michigan State captain and plucky center Red Savage, who the team drafted in 2021. The 5’11,” 185-pound center isn’t a big man by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s extraordinarily competitive and gritty in a 3rd/4th line role.
I felt that his professionalism and compete level would at least fit in well in Grand Rapids, if not Detroit, down the line.
When Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman told the Wings’ media corps that Savage’s situation was a question for Shawn Horcoff, who is both the Wings’ assistant GM and the Grand Rapids Griffins’ GM, I hoped that the Wings would at least sign Savage to an AHL contract before his rights expire on August 15th.
This morning, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff suggests that the Wings could very well Savage to an AHL deal, with the possibility of earning an NHL contract down the line:
“His rights expire Aug. 15,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said of the player they drafted 114th overall in 2021. “I think we’ve had some discussions. I haven’t got an update on it, but potentially looking at Red remaining in the fold on some type of contract.”
Yzerman admitted that this was more of a question for assistant GM Shawn Horcoff. Since one of the main duties fulfilled by Horcoff is serving as GM of the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, putting two and two together, it would seem likely that Detroit is trying to get Savage to agree to terms on an AHL contract.
A dislocated shoulder was cutting Savage’s senior season short. He suffered the season-ending injury on January 17, limiting him to 20 games. There was some speculation that Savage might seek a fifth season as an NCAA hardship case, but that never materialized.
The left-shot center finished with 5-6-11 totals in 20 games. Were he to turn down the Detroit offer, Savage could become a UFA on Aug. 15, as Yzerman noted.
Continued; Savage may be holding out for two-way NHL/AHL contract offers when he becomes a free agent this August, but I really do hope that the Wings manage to sign him.
He’s a mini Tomas Nosek in terms of his faceoff prowess, determination and desire to win every puck battle, and I believe that he will be an asset to one of the NHL’s 32 teams.
