Hey! We did the thing!
DeKeyser deal has an average cap hit of $2.187 million. He’ll make $2.125 million the first year and $2.250 in the second year of deal.
— Chuck Pleiness (@wingsfrontman) September 16, 2014
After nervously chomping at my lip for about two weeks straight, living in complete and utter anguish over the fact that defenseman Danny DeKeyser had not signed his extension off his RFA status, the day is here. The Wings have signed Double-D to a two-year deal worth $4.375 million. Danny is coming off of an impressive rookie campaign with 23 points (4 goals, 19 assists) in 65 games. He missed a chunk of the season due to some injuries, but aside from that he was a complete workhorse for the team, taking on a huge role for a rookie.
We know the story with DeKeyser, he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan University, the Macomb Township native defenseman will be RFA status at the end of this two-year deal in which the club is showing signs that Danny could end up being a life-long Red Wing. DeKeyser was one of the top NHL first-year blue-liners and was named Detroit Red Wing Rookie of the Year in 2013-2014.
Per Red Wings press release:
The Macomb, Mich., native appeared in 11 regular-season and two postseason games for the Red Wings during the 2012-13 season. Following the conclusion of Detroit’s postseason run in 2013, he joined the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs and helped the team capture their first-ever championship, logging one assist in six contests.
Prior to turning professional, DeKeyser spent three seasons (2010-13) with the CCHA’s Western Michigan Broncos, logging 49 points (12-37-49) in 118 games. The 6-foot-3, 190-lb., blueliner was named to the NCAA Second All-American Team and CCHA First All-Star Team in 2013 after capturing the CCHA’s Best Defensive Defenseman for the second consecutive season. He was also honored as a freshman in 2011 on the CCHA All-Rookie Team and as a sophomore in 2012 on the CCHA Second All-Star Team after helping the Broncos to a conference championship.
This is something for Red Wings Faithful to be excited about. Danny is an extremely bright, young player who has a very promising future ahead of him in the Winged Wheel. The team will look for Danny to take on a huge role in the 2014-2015 season as a top-pairing defenseman.
