The Red Wings are adding another veteran defenseman to its backend — Dearborn Heights native Jordan Oesterle has signed a two-year deal, the team announced just a few hours into free agency:
UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today agreed to terms with defenseman Jordan Oesterle on a two-year contract. pic.twitter.com/iEgEYmuCOf
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 28, 2021
The terms of Oesterle’s deal outside of length have not yet been disclosed.
Oesterle has plenty of ties to players already on the Red Wings roster. He played with Danny DeKeyser at Western Michigan University, and Dylan Larkin at the 2018 World Championship for Team USA. Oesterle’s numbers aren’t eye-popping — they’re modest at best, but he’ll bring more veteran presence to the Red Wings locker room, and add some much-needed depth at LD.
It’s hard to see how this defensive corps shakes out as we inch closer to the season. The Red Wings will no-doubt want to get its prized prospect Moritz Seider playing night-in and night-out. My guess is that Oesterle will fit right in the 2nd pairing alongside Troy Stecher.
Oesterle is hailed as a puck-moving defender who can jump in the rush and chip in on offense here and there.. It’s a two-year deal, but it really shouldn’t be looked at as more than a depth signing.
