Red Wings Sign Eight Players Including Brad Ference

[BruiseBroJim]

DETROIT -- Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill today announced the Red Wings have signed eight players to contracts.

Left wing Matt Ellis returns to Detroit after spending the last five seasons in the Red Wings' organization at Toledo (ECHL) and Grand Rapids (AHL). Ellis, who signed a two-year deal, made his NHL debut in 2006-07 appearing in a total 16 games for the Red Wings.

Joining the Wings for the first time are goaltender Adam Berkhoel, forwards Carl Corazzini, Mark Cullen, Randall Gelech and Mark Hartigan, and defensemen Brad Ference and Garrett Stafford. Gelech signed a two-year deal, while the other six signed one-year agreements.

Ference was originally a first-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks (10th overall in 1997) and boasts the most experience of the group with 250 NHL games played.

“These players are valuable acquisitions for the Red Wings organization,” Nill said. “In addition to greatly upgrading our team’s depth, we expect them to vie for a spot on the Red Wings' roster during training camp."

[blackngold]

speaking of these mysterious names switching rosters on nhl.com, nathan smith is listed under the penguins

[Captain Crunch28]

I dont know, he loses pretty much every fight he's in.

[skacore]

It mentions the signing in this article near the middle http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/.. he is definitely not tougher than Norton, but he is a better player and more likely to see ice time in Detroit, but the signing was for him to play in GR for now anyways, he is only 27 so he can still develop a bit

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by BruiseBroJim

Ference is probably slated for Grand Rapids but, he could be called up and he certainly would be better than Brad Norton in the toughness dept.

He certainly isn't better than Norton is the toughness department. Ference is a mediocre middleweight at best. It's still nice to see Detroit sign somebody willing to drop the mitts but I am not confident he'll actually make the big club come this fall...

[skacore]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

He certainly isn't better than Norton is the toughness department. Ference is a mediocre middleweight at best. It's still nice to see Detroit sign somebody willing to drop the mitts but I am not confident he'll actually make the big club come this fall...

I don't think he will either, but Ken Holland has mentioned a few times that he is not interested in any big name FA's right now (the few left), he wanted a "depth D man" and also says he wants a top 6 winger... Wings have a stockpile of young D men who are just about NHL ready so this could be build up for a potential trade, but more than likely just a Grand Rapids signing

[BruiseBroJim]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

He certainly isn't better than Norton is the toughness department. Ference is a mediocre middleweight at best. It's still nice to see Detroit sign somebody willing to drop the mitts but I am not confident he'll actually make the big club come this fall...

"a mediocre middleweight"? Ference is 6'3" and and over 200 lbs. Maybe he's a mediocre fighter but, he's not a middleweight.

[blackngold]

Originally Posted by BruiseBroJim

"a mediocre middleweight"? Ference is 6'3" and and over 200 lbs. Maybe he's a mediocre fighter but, he's not a middleweight.

class is usually determined by fighting ability here, not size
there are several exceptions for monsters though like zdeno chara, but he doesnt fight anyways

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by BruiseBroJim

"a mediocre middleweight"? Ference is 6'3" and and over 200 lbs. Maybe he's a mediocre fighter but, he's not a middleweight.

He's a middleweight. That isn't even debatable.

[AVALANCHE FAN]

It doesnt matter either way if he gets in more then 1 or 2 fights he will either get benched or have his ice time cut drasticly,Nothing has changed the Wings mgt are still against fighting.

[Isles4life]

Never been a fan of the guy ever since he started crying and feigning injury when he got hit by Isbister at a game on the Island. He instigated the infamous water bottle and glove throwing incident in the penalty boxes. Not actually that tough, but if he makes the team he'll be an upgrade in that department for the Wings.

[Colt Seavers]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

Never been a fan of the guy ever since he started crying and feigning injury when he got hit by Isbister at a game on the Island. He instigated the infamous water bottle and glove throwing incident in the penalty boxes. Not actually that tough, but if he makes the team he'll be an upgrade in that department for the Wings.

At least we have someone who has the potential to be aggresive to clear the front of the net. I predict he'll bounce between Grand Rapids and Detroit. He's hits. He occasionally fights. He has to compete with Kyle Quincey for that 7th spot. The M.O. of Detroit states he'll be in the AHL most of the time.

[Redtown]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

Never been a fan of the guy ever since he started crying and feigning injury when he got hit by Isbister at a game on the Island. He instigated the infamous water bottle and glove throwing incident in the penalty boxes. Not actually that tough, but if he makes the team he'll be an upgrade in that department for the Wings.

I wouldn't mind some water bottle and glove throwing from the Wings once in a while...

[Podollan]

Nothing against Ference but if they doesn't sign another tough Player they got even weaker then they were last Year..

[Redtown]

Originally Posted by Podollan

Nothing against Ference but if they doesn't sign another tough Player they got even weaker then they were last Year..

How so?

By not re-signing Lang the Wings improved every aspect of their game.