After a strong preseason, the Wings have signed forward Fabian Brunnstrom to a one-year two-way contract. The deal is reportedly worth $600,000 in the NHL and $105,000 in the AHL.
In conjunction with the Brunnstrom signing the Wings released 35-year-old Ryan Johnson, who like Brunnstrom was with the Wings on a pro-tryout contract.
According to Ansar Khan of Mlive.com, Ken Holland and Brunnstrom agreed to the parameters of a contract back in August given that he made the team. Last week Holland did mention that he was leaning towards offering Brunnstrom a contract.
Brunnstrom offers the Wings good size, skill and youth. The 6-1, 215lb. forward scored three goals in his first four preseason games and impressed the Wings with his ability to drive to the net.
Brunnstrom was very highly touted entering the league back in 2008-09 with the Dallas Stars. He appeared in 99 games with Dallas Stars from 2008-2010, registering 19 goals, 40 points and 18 penalty minutes. Brunnstrom was also only the third player in NHL history to record a hat trick in his first NHL game on Oct. 15, 2008, against Nashville.
Things quickly turned though for Brunnstrom as he faded out with the Stars.
He was later traded to Toronto and spent all of last season with the Leafs’ AHL affiliate.
The Wings also put five players on waivers as they get their roster prepared for the regular season opener this coming Friday against Ottawa.
Goaltender Joey MacDonald, defensemen Doug Janik, Garnet Exelby and Logan Pyett, and forward Chris Conner (Michigan Tech), will be assigned to Grand Rapids if they clear waivers by noon Tuesday.
The Wings will go with Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Danny Cleary, Jiri Hudler, Valtteri Filppula, Todd Bertuzzi, Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader, Tomas Holmstrom, Patrick Eaves, Drew Miller, Cory Emmerton and Brunnstrom at forward.
On defense the Wings will go with Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Brad Stuart, Ian White, Jonathan Ericsson, Jakub Kindl and Mike Commodore.
At goaltender the starter will be Jimmy Howard with Ty Conklin backing him up.
Ref: Mlive.com, Detroit Free Press
