Depth signings…Detroit signs Cameron Butler and Jacob Bryson

Updated 3x at 5:19 PM: The Red Wings signed two “depth players” on Wednesday, adding Cameron Butler, a 24-year-old 6’4,” 209-pound winger who’s bounced around the AHL and ECHL…

And the Red Wings have signed defenseman Jacob Bryson to a 1-year, $850,000 contract. Bryson is 5’9″ and 176 pounds, and the 28-year-old has been a #6/7 NHL defenseman:

Update: The Wings confirmed the Bryson signing at 4:44 PM:

Update #2: The Wings posted a Bryson press release first:

RED WINGS SIGN JACOB BRYSON TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

  … Defenseman Has Skated in 304 Games with Winnipeg and Buffalo Since 2020-21 …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman Jacob Bryson to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $850,000.

Bryson, 28, split the 2025-26 season between the Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets, recording eight points (2-6-8) and 10 penalty minutes in 50 games. The 5-foot-9, 177-pound defenseman spent the entire 2024-25 campaign with the Sabres, tallying seven assists and 10 penalty minutes in 48 games. Originally selected by Buffalo in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Bryson has registered 51 points (6-45-51) and 60 penalty minutes in 304 games with the Sabres and Jets since 2020-21. Bryson also collected 33 points (4-29-33), a plus-10 rating and 38 penalty minutes in 76 games with the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans.

Prior to turning professional, Bryson played three seasons at Providence College from 2016-19, accumulating 73 points (11-62-73), a plus-33 rating and 38 penalty minutes in 121 games. Bryson was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team as a junior after notching 28 points (4-24-28), a plus-17 rating and eight penalty minutes in 42 games in 2018-19. He was also selected to the Hockey East First All-Star Team and garnered CCM/AHCA Second Team (East) All-American honors as a sophomore after logging 25 points (4-21-25), a plus-16 rating and 18 penalty minutes in 40 games during the 2017-18 season. The London, Ont., native contributed 31 points (3-28-31) and 36 penalty minutes in 56 games with the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League during the 2015-16 season, earning a place on the USHL All-Rookie Team.

Here’s more about Bryson from MLive’s Ansar Khan…

The Detroit Red Wings signed defenseman Jacob Bryson to a one-year deal for $850,000 on Wednesday.

The depth move gives the Red Wings seven experienced NHL defenseman as Bryson joins Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson (a restricted free agent), Justin Faulk, Ben Chiarot, Albert Johansson and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Young D-man Axel Sandin-Pellikka and William Wallinder will compete for jobs.

The 5-9, 177-pound Bryson, 28, is a left-shooter who played 50 games last season between Buffalo and Winnipeg (two goals, six assists, 10 penalty minutes). He’s played 304 career games (six goals, 45 assists, 60 penalty minutes).

And Detroit Hockey Now’s Max Smith:

The 28 year old blueliner has over 300 career games played in the NHL after being selected 99th overall in the 2017 draft. Bryson was selected by the Buffalo Sabres and has played all but 15 career games with them, having been moved by the team’s revamped front office at this year’s trade deadline.

In 50 games at the NHL level, Bryson had two goals and six assists across his time with the Jets and Sabres. Bryson’s contract locks him at the NHL level unless he is waived by the team. Given his experience, he should be expected to slot in as organizational depth as an 8th defenseman while the Red Wings keep some of their younger prospects waiver exempt.

After picking up a solid blueliner as a reclamation project in another former Sabre in Jacob Bernard-Docker, the Red Wings may be hoping there’s some untapped utility as they let prospects like Axel Sandin-Pellikka claim top pairing minutes in Grand Rapids.

Published by

George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *