After a (relatively) quiet draft, the Detroit Red Wings made a handful of moves on Day 1 of free agency.
In total, they made six signings and one trade across the span of just a few hours. A few contracts later, and the Red Wings have a newly revamped bottom-six, a fresh scoring winger and some AHL depth.
Here's who Steve Yzerman signed (and how the signing looks as a whole):
Carter Mazur - 2 years, $875,000/year
When the Red Wings chose not to qualify Carter Mazur, many believed he would hit the free agent market. Fortunately, it appears as if Yzerman and Mazur had a little deal on the side to make sure he stayed. Mazur has yet to score at the NHL level, but the 2021 third round pick showed quite a bit of tenacity in the later leg of the 2025-26 season. The points will almost certainly come with time.
He'll slot in on the team's bottom-six, helping to bring some grit to a team in desperate need of it.
Grade: B+
Viktor Arvidsson - 2 years, $5,000,000/year
The biggest signing by far came from Viktor Arvidsson, a Swedish forward that scored 54 points with the Boston Bruins last season. 45 of Arvidsson's points last season came at even-strength, an area which Detroit desperately needed to improve. At two years - and an affordable contract - Yzerman gets extra scoring and a potential deadline move if the Wings happen to bottom out.
As a middle-six forward, he'll play anywhere from the second line to holding it down on the third, ensuring the Wings have an extra scoring threat throughout their lineup. In an extremely shallow pool of free agents, Yzerman scored one of the top candidates available.
Grade: A+
Daniil Tarasov - 1 year, $2,000,000/year
Who doesn't love a little competition? As is tradition at this point, the Red Wings signed a goaltender -- this one, Daniil Tarasov, had a promising season with the Panthers. He started 30 games for the oft-injured Panthers, putting up a decent-enough .895 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average. Tarasov is a clear upgrade over Cam Talbot, who is still on the hunt for a contract in free agency.
Signing Tarasov means he and prospect Michal Postava will compete to back up John Gibson. Whether he earns that role or Postava steals the gig remains to be seen, but it makes for an exciting training camp and preseason rivalry all the asme.
Grade: B-
Cameron Butler - 1 year, $850,000 (two-way)
With the departure of players like Eduards Tralmaks, the Grand Rapids Griffins needed some extra depth. Their answer comes in the form of Cameron Butler, an aggressive winger from the Iowa Wild/Iowa Heartlanders. Prospect reports praise Butler for his physicality and positioning. While he isn't a high-scorer by any means, he'll give the Griffins the grit they'll need to make it farther in the playoffs.
It's unlikely that Butler sees NHL ice time, but, all the same, his two-way contract gives him flexibility if the Red Wings do decide to call him up.
Grade: B
Wilmer Skoog - 1 year, $850,000 (two-way)
For those who don't remember (or choose not to), Wilmer Skoog is one of the hilariously-named players that put up a handful of points on the Red Wings in the final regular season game of 2025-26. The 26-year-old center scored two assists in Florida's final game of the season, capping off his AHL regular season with 37 points in 61 games.
Like Bulter, there's not a high likelihood of Skoog seeing NHL time. His two-way contract does afford him the ability to, should the Red Wings choose to see what he's got.
Grade: B
Jacob Bryson - 1 year, $850,000
The Red Wings have one of two things with Jacob Bryson: their Travis Hamonic replacement, or their William Wallinder replacement in Grand Rapids. Either way, like Tarasov, Bryson will be the competitor for Wallinder over the next season. Bryson is a clear upgrade over Hamonic, but the bar is staggeringly low. Still, he's a serviceable extra defenseman and can slot into hte lineup in a pinch.
That said, Bryson signed a one-way contract, making him eligible to waiver claims. If the Red Wings choose to waive him, another team can acquire him.
Grade: B
Keegan Kolesar - Traded by Vegas Golden Knights
One of the more exciting moves yesterday was the trade for Keegan Kolesar of the Vegas Golden Knights. In exchange for a third round pick and a seventh round pick, the Red Wings acquire a fourth-line forward who finished the season seventh in NHL hits. Over the last four seasons, Kolesar is fourth in hits, making him a fearsome threat any time he steps on the ice.
The Red Wings needed to get tougher last season. This is the perfect answer to that concern.
Grade: A
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