The Detroit Red Wings have signed a critical contract extension with restricted free agent defender Filip Hronek. The team has made one big trade already this summer, but this is another piece of the shifting puzzle that is the 2021-22 roster. The new deal lands Hronek at three years and $4.4M AAV. Elliotte Friedman announced the agreement Friday evening.
$4.4M https://t.co/TxoLEEIxci
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 3, 2021
Red Wings Extend Filip Hronek
Hronek turned in a fine 2020-21 campaign despite the shortened season and Detroit’s overall struggles. The 23-year-old posted two goals and 26 points in 56 games along with 67 hits and 46 blocks. The raw numbers came while averaging 23:23 per night. Nothing on Hronek’s stat sheet should leap out at readers, but his .46 points per game was only .02 lower than it was in 2019-20. The lack of obvious excellence can largely be attributed to a Red Wings team that struggled to score in almost every situation. Despite their lack of punch, Hronek still managed a respectable 48.6 Corsi For and 4.5 relative Corsi. It is clear that he did his best to drive play even if that didn’t appear on the scoreboard most nights.
The Red Wings originally drafted the 6’0″ Czech defender in the second round of the 2016 Draft. He has been a key part of their blueline almost the entire time since he debuted in 2018-19. Hronek has appeared in 167 games and has 16 goals, 80 points, and 238 hits. 2021-22 will be huge as it will be the NHL’s first full season in almost three years. It should give many like Hronek an opportunity to really settle into a normal rhythm.
What Comes Next
Hronek should enter the coming season as the team’s main defender and point man on the power play. Detroit does have prospects such as Moritz Seider and Albert Johansson on their way to help the NHL squad, but Hronek should be the primary leader on the blueline for at least one more season.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
