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Red Wings sign former Isles prospect Russo

2011 NHL Entry Draft - Portraits

2011 NHL Entry Draft - Portraits

Getty Images

The New York Islanders didn’t have room for defensive prospect Robbie Russo, but the Detroit Red Wings seem to.

Detroit signed the 22-year-old to a two-year entry-level contract on Sunday.

Russo isn’t just a blueliner, he’s a much-needed right-handed shot. The Red Wings addressed that deficit to a nice extent with Mike Green, yet one could probably argue that it was still a broader area of need.

Russo spent the last four seasons with Notre Dame, peaking in 2014-15 with 41 points in 40 games. The Islanders selected him in the fourth round (95th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft.

It’s unclear where, exactly, Russo stands in Detroit’s hierarchy off the bat. They seem pretty well settled at the highest level right now, but it never hurts to have more options. Perhaps he’ll make a nice impression if he gets a closer look during training camp?