Red Wings sign defenseman Robbie Russo to two-year extension

DETROIT — The Red Wings have inked defenseman Robbie Russo to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday evening:

Russo appeared in 19 games with the Red Wings in 2016-2017, but didn’t manage to register a point. The 24-year-old rearguard from Westmont, Illinois is a former draft pick of the New York Islanders. While he hasn’t found much offensive production in the NHL through a small sample, his numbers in the NCAA and AHL suggest he may have some offensive upside.

Personal take

If this upsets you because the team has yet to sign Andreas Athanasiou, then let me give you a little reality: these two negotiations do not go hand-in-hand. The team is strapped for cap space, yes, but what Russo will likely get is a deal that can likely be buried in the minors. Yes, it sucks that we haven’t signed Athanasiou (and probably won’t), but Russo’s contract is far from the straw that broke the already-broken camel’s back, ass, legs, and neck.

He hasn’t shown much in the NHL, but the sample size is so small, and his team was so terrible that I can’t make a decision on the guy yet. Just a year ago we were all singing the praises for him with his performance in his rookie AHL season. I think he deserves some more time on the big stage before we can make a consensus on him. Hell, we’re still trying to figure out what Ryan Sproul is. [insert crying face emoji]

UPDATE:

MLive’s Ansar Khan reveals term on Russo’s extension, which reveals what we already expected — he signed for peanuts: