Luke Witkowski Signs with Detroit Twice
Luke Witkowski has signed with Detroit twice in the last four years. Witkowski signed his first contract with Detroit as an UFA in 2017. The cap hit was $750,000 annually for two years.
In 65 games over two years with Detroit, Witkowski scored one goal and six points.
Recently, after two seasons in the Tampa Bay organization, mostly playing in the AHL, Witkowski signed another two year contract with Detroit.
He is most likely headed to Grand Rapids (AHL), but is guaranteed $250,000 each year to mentor and protect the young Red Wings prospects.
Trading for Brendan Perlini
I watched Brendan Perlini play junior hockey in Niagara for parts of four seasons. A smooth skater with a nice shot enabled Perlini to be drafted 12th overall to Phoenix (later changed to Arizona) in 2014. I was never sold on Perlini as an NHL player. Something was missing from his repertoire.
He played poorly for Canada at the World Junior Champions in 2016.
He made his NHL debut the next season, then scored a career best 17 goals in 2018. He was acquired by Steve Yzerman at the beginning of the 2019 season after having been a healthy scratch and playing one game for Chicago. Perlini went on to score one goal in 39 games with the Red Wings and was not offered a contract and became an UFA.
He played in the NL last year scoring 16 points in 21 games and recently signed a one year two-way contract with Edmonton.
Detroit relinquished the signing rights to right shot defense prospect Alec Regula. Regula scored 27 goals in 56 games in London (OHL) and played his first professional season in the Chicago organization last year. He scored three goals and four points in 16 games in Rockford (AHL) and played three games with Chicago.