Detroit Red Wings sign Antti Tuomisto to a two-year deal

On Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings signed defenseman Antti Tuomisto to a two-year entry-level contract that begins in the 2023-24 season.

Tuomisto, 22, was selected by the Red Wings 35th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Level Draft. The second-round pick has spent the entire 2022-23 season with TPS in Finland’s SM-Liiga. With SM-Liiga this season, the towering 6-foot-5 defender has totaled five goals and 20 points over 60 games. Tuomisto’s 20 points this past season were the most of any defenseman that is 23 years old or younger in Finland’s top professional hockey league. The young defender has also recorded two assists in three playoff games this year.

The Detroit Red Wings signed Antti Tuomisto to a two-year entry-level contract.

The 22-year-old played two years at the University of Denver before forgoing his final two years of college eligibility to return home to play professional hockey in Finland. As a freshman, Tuomisto recorded two goals and 11 points in 24 games, and he followed that up with just one goal and nine points over 35 games. In that second year, the young defenseman also maintained a plus-20 rating.

During that second year, as a sophomore, Tuomisto helped the Pioneers win the 2022 NCAA Division I championship. Also on that Denver club is Detroit Red Wings prospect and Jackson, Michigan native Carter Mazur. Mazur scored 14 goals and totaled 38 points over 41 games that Championship season, and he’s followed that up with 22 goals and 37 points over 39 games this year.

Catching up on some other Detroit Red Wings news from over the weekend.

An Avalanche buried the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday following a long few days of rest after an uninspiring effort last Tuesday in Nashville. It’s safe to say the wheels have fallen off, and that very optimistic west coast trip a month or so ago doesn’t even feel like it happened this season.

It’s become apparent that general manager Steve Yzerman needs to find a top center to pair with captain Dylan Larkin this summer for the rebuild, or ‘YzerPlan’ as it is often coined, to take its next step.

On the bright side, Detroit Red Wings top defense prospect made his NHL debut over the weekend. Simon Edvinsson held up reasonably well on Saturday in his debut. The towering defender wasn’t afraid of the moment and even got a good lick in on superstar center Nathan MacKinnon early on in the first period.

Next up for the Red Wings is a date with the Florida Panthers on Monday evening in Detroit.