The Detroit Red Wings have avoided arbitration with defenseman Brendan Smith. As first reported by the CBC’s Elliotte Friedman, club and player have agreed on a two-year deal worth $2.525 million.
Wings general manager Ken Holland has confirmed the news.
Smith, 24, had zero goals and eight assists in 34 regular-season games this past season. He then added a pair of goals and three assists in 14 playoff contests while averaging 19:08 of ice time.
The Wings drafted Smith 27th overall in 2007 and have slowly brought him along, as they tend to do with their prospects.
He’ll be expected to take another step in his development next year after the Wings bid adieu to veteran d-men Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo.
Smith was the only Wings player to file for arbitration; however, the club still has restricted free agents Joakim Andersson and Gustav Nyquist to sign.