Since his first full NHL season in 2015-16 as a member of the Nashville Predators, Watson has established himself as one of the premier enforcers in the league and will add some grit and toughness to an up-and-coming Red Wings squad. The 6'4 Watson spent last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, tallying four points (2G / 2A), 85 hits, and 93 penalty minutes in 33 games.
Gibson underwent an emergency appendectomy on September 25th and is about two weeks into his original 3-6 week timeline. The American netminder has failed to produce a save percentage above .900 in each of the last two seasons and beginning 2024-25 on the Injured Reserve is a tough way to ensure a bounce-back campaign after only 13 wins in 2023-24.
Gibson's 2024-25 is already starting out on a negative note after Anaheim announced Thursday that the 31-year-old had undergone emergency appendectomy surgery on Wednesday and is expected to be out for approximately 3-6 weeks. The American netminder has failed to produce a save percentage above .900 in each of the last two seasons and beginning 2024-25 on the Injured Reserve is a tough way to ensure a bounce-back campaign after only 13 wins in 2023-24.
Just one day after locking up Lucas Raymond, Detroit has completed their UFA signings by extending Moritz Sieder to a seven-year deal worth $8.55M AAV ($59.85M total). The 23-year-old was Detroit's 2019 1st-round pick (6th overall) and has appeared in all 82 games for the Red Wings in every season since his debut in 2021-22. Seider set career highs in goals (9), PIMs (51) and PPG (3) in 2023-24 while putting up 42 points in 82 games played.
With Columbus looking to get above the salary cap floor, they have signed 35-year-old left-winger James van Riemsdyk to a one-year, $900,000 contract. The 35-year-old is entering his 16th NHL season with his fourth team and spent 2023-24 with Boston where he had 11 goals, 38 points and 142 SOG in 71 games played.
Brandsegg-Nygard was Detroit's 2024 1st round pick (15th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings. The 18-year-old right-winger spent 2023-24 with Mora IK (HA) and had eight goals and 18 ponts in 41 games played.
Detroit added to Grand Rapids' depth chart on Monday as it added Sheldon Dries on a two-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old winger last appeared in the NHL with Vancouver in 2022-23 but had a successful full season in Abbotsford (AHL) in 2023-24, with 29 goals and 52 points in 55 games played.
Gustafson will join his eighth NHL team in nine seasons after signing a two-year, $4 million contract ($2,000,000 AAV) with Detroit on Monday. The 32-year-old spent 2023-24 with the New York Rangers and had six goals, 31 points and 35 PIMs in 76 games played.
Talbot will join his eighth team in 12 seasons after he signed a two-year, $5 million contract ($2,500,000 AAV) with the Red Wings on Monday. The 36-year-old appeared in his most games since 2017-18 (54) and had a 27-20-6 record, .913 SV% and 2.50 GAA with Los Angeles.
Detroit added to their defensive depth on Monday as they added William Lagesson to a one-year, $775,000 contract. The 28-year-old appeared in 40 games between Toronto and Anaheim in 2023-24 and had four assists, 32 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus.
Kane can reportedly earn an additional $2.5M in performance bonuses. After joining the Red Wings in mid-December, Kane posted 47 points (20G / 27A) and the Red Wings were 23-22-5 in 50 games. Kane bounced between the first and second line last year and could do the same in 2024-25, especially if the Red Wings add another winger in Free Agency on Monday.
Kiiskinen was Nashville's 2023 third-round pic (68th overall) and has been dealt to Detroit alongside a 2024 second-round pick for Andrew Gibson. Kiiskinen is an 18-year-old right-winger who has spent his entire playing career in Finland and had four goals, and 10 points in 38 games with Pelicans (Liiga).
Mitchell was acquired by Boston last offseason in a deal that involved Taylor Hall going to Chicago and has now signed a one-year, two-way contract to remain with the Bruins. The 25-year-old defenseman has four goals and 18 points in 95 career NHL games played after appearing in 13 games for Boston in 2023-24.
Sandin-Pelikka was Detroit's 2023 first-round pick (17th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 19-year-old defenseman just finished his second season with Skelleftea AIK (SHL) and had an impressive 10 goals, and 18 points in 39 games played in Sweden highest league.
Despite allowing four goals on 31 shots (.871 SV%), Talbot evened out the series with a victory over Edmonton in overtime of Game 2. The Kings' will go back to the 36-year-old veteran netminder despite his struggles after he posted a solid 27-20-6 record, 2.50 GAA, and .913 SV% during the regular season. He'll look to take the series lead as Los Angeles hosts Edmonton for Game 3 on Friday, who were fourth on the NHL in goals per game (3.56) during the regular season.
The Kings will return to Talbot for a second straight game on Wednesday despite struggling in their game-one loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers jumped out to a 4-0 lead less than halfway through game one en route to an eventual 7-4 victory where Talbot allowed six goals on 44 shots (.864 SV%). The Kings enter game two as +163 road underdogs.
The Kings will return to Talbot for a second straight game on Wednesday despite struggling in their game-one loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers jumped out to a 4-0 lead less than halfway through game one en route to an eventual 7-4 victory where Talbot allowed six goals on 44 shots (.864 SV%). The Kings enter game two as +163 road underdogs.
Jakub Lauko will be a healthy scratch in game three, allowing van Riemsdyk to make his series debut. The 34-year-old van Riemsdyk had an up-and-down 2023-24 campaign, scoring 38 points (11G / 27A) in 71 contests.
The Kings will turn to Talbot between the pipes in their game one matchup on Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers. The veteran Talbot struggled in his last two games (1-1-0), allowing seven goals on 41 combined shots (.829 SV%) but overall was serviceable this season for the Kings, posting a 2.50 GAA and .913 SV% in 54 games (27-20-6). The Kings enter game one as +149 road underdogs.
