Red Wings sign Ronnie Attard to one-year contract

A native of the Mitten is returning home.

On Monday, the Detroit Red Wings signed defenseman Ronnie Attard to a one-year, two-way contract. According to PuckPedia, the deal carries an NHL cap hit of $850,000 and a minor-league salary of $300,000.

Attard, a native of White Lake Township, Mich., is back in his home state for the first time in nearly a half-decade. The 27-year-old was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round, 72nd overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft. From there, he became a standout blueliner at Western Michigan University, leading the Broncos to the NCAA Tournament in his senior season in 2021-22 and earning West First-Team All-American honors. While making the Red Wings might be a stretch, he’ll at least have a chance to stay in Michigan in the minors, as he most likely will join Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Attard spent the 2025-26 season under contract with the Colorado Avalanche, on a two-way deal with an NHL salary of $775,000, an AHL cap hit of $450,000, and a guaranteed salary of $500,000. He spent the entire season with the Avalanche’s primary affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, scoring three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 44 games, adding two goals in four contests in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The former Bronco does have some NHL experience, though it has been a couple of years. He was last seen in the big league with the Flyers during the 2023-24 campaign, posting two assists in 12 games. In 29 career games in the NHL, all with Philadelphia, Attard has two goals and four assists for six points. In 226 regular-season games in the AHL, he has notched 32 goals and 61 assists for 93 points, with another five points in 13 postseason affairs.