Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman appears to have moves in place for free agency; TSN’s Frank Seravelli reports the team will sign defenseman Patrik Nemeth to a two-year deal:

Patrik Nemeth is heading to the #RedWings on a two-year deal with a nice raise from the $2.5 million he made last year.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2019

Nemeth is a big-bodied defenseman with very little offensive flare. With a career-high of 15 points just a season ago, this isn’t a signing that really moves the needle for Detroit, but offers some depth outside of who they have waiting in Grand Rapids. Nemeth is 27 years old, and has spent time back and forth between the NHL and AHL over the years, but what really interests me is just how much money they’re going to be paying him. Nevertheless, it’s difficult for me to get upset over a two-year deal.

A recent in-depth analysis from All About the Jersey reveals that Nemeth isn’t the kind of player who drives a lot of offense when he’s on the ice, and his team is often outpaced and outshot when he’s playing. However, he could be useful in suppressing scoring chances:

Like many of the 2018-19 Devils defensemen, the Avs were rocked in the run of play when Nemeth was on the ice. They were out-shot. They were clearly out-attempted too. They were out-shot by a good margin. However, the Avs were very good about limiting scoring chances and especially high danger scoring chances when Nemeth was on the ice. This contributed to a more favorable expected goals for percentage and especially an expected goals against rate. Like the Devils blueline in general last season, when Nemeth was on the ice, the Avs kept plenty to the outside - it was just that there was a lot of it. Nemeth and his teammates struggled to turn the play around; which was also like multiple Devils defensemen last season.

It seems that Detroit went for a player they see as a PK specialist.

An interesting move — I think Nemeth has value, and can definitely contribute to the defensive corps, I just wonder if this signing is a precursor to another change coming to the blue line.

UPDATE (1:55pm ET): Red Wings make the signing official

The #RedWings today signed defenseman Patrik Nemeth to a 2-year contract. pic.twitter.com/niJ3lHoA5U

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 1, 2019

How do you feel about the signing?