The Red Wings and General Manager Ken Holland came to terms with the first of their five restricted free agents Wednesday.
The Wings re-sigh Riley Sheahan to a two-year deal at a cap hit of $2.075 million per season.
— Chuck Pleiness (@wingsfrontman) June 15, 2016
Red Wings Sign Riley Sheahan to 2-Year Deal
Riley Sheahan had a career year in the goal-scoring department after having just nine goals and 18 points through March 22nd. A six-goal, seven point performance in the final nine games showed off the offensive touch he’s shown at times through his NHL career. He was drafted for his defensive handiwork at the University of Notre Dame using his big body (6’3″, 222 lbs) to protect the puck, so any offensive contribution that could grow into his game could make the 24-year old that much more of a weapon.
Through his career so far his CF% has averaged out at 54% through 200+ career games. He’s got a wicked wrist shot that’s made exclusive appearances and spent many games on the wing in the bottom six with the signing of Brad Richards. With Richards, Pavel Datsyuk, and possibly Darren Helm gone, however, Sheahan may have more responsibility as a second-line forward if the Wings don’t snag a certain free agent center this July.
Sheahan’s new contract is as long as the one he signed back in the summer of 2014, but with a slightly higher $2.07 million cap hit than the previous $1.9 million mark. For a career year and how young the St. Catharines, Ontario native still is, it is a solid deal for both sides giving the Red Wings center depth that could chip in offensively every now and then.
With the deal, the Red Wings currently have roughly $11 million in cap space with restricted free agents Teemu Pulkkinen, Danny Dekeyser, Alexey Marchenko, and Petr Mrazek left to take care of at the NHL level. With Jimmy Howard and Datsyuk’s contracts also in play for trades, it will be interesting to see what happens in the next 15 days before July 1st.
Salary Cap related info courtesy of CapFriendly
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