The Red Wings have agreed to terms with blueliner Xavier Ouellet on a one-year, one-way deal worth $715,000, per MLive.
Ouellet, 22, was the club’s second-round pick (48th overall) at the 2011 draft and has played for Detroit in each of the last two seasons, including a career-high 21 last season.
A former Quebec League standout that played for Team Canada at the 2013 World Juniors, Ouellet didn’t crack the Red Wings roster out of camp this year and has spent all of his time with AHL Grand Rapids, where he’s scored six points through 11 games.
Last year, he was named an AHL All-Star while playing for the Griffins.
With this contract, the Wings give Ouellet another year of grooming in the American League, with the opportunity to become a full-time NHLer next season. It’s important to note that, during the 2016-17 season, he’ll no longer be waiver exempt -- meaning his chances of staying with parent club do improve.