Jack Campbell didn’t have to wait long for a new home after getting bought out by the Oilers. The netminder has agreed to a one-year deal with the Red Wings worth $775K, per a team announcement . In addition to adding to their goaltending depth, the team has re-signed forward Christian Fischer to a one-year, $1.125MM contract according to a team announcement .
Unless another move is made in the upcoming days, the Red Wings appear to have a bloated goaltending situation. The team was already positioned to start the season with Ville Husso and Alex Lyon as the goaltending combo but brought in two more goaltenders on NHL contracts as the organization’s most significant moves of the afternoon. The moves appear in stark contrast to the words used by General Manager Steve Yzerman only a few days ago when he said, “I don’t see us really doing three goaltenders throughout the course of the season. That wasn’t really the plan last year either, but injury kind of dictated that. Having said that, I don’t anticipate using prime assets to acquire an older goaltender that might not be here two, three, four years from now“.
If Yzerman plans to use that as a framework for his goaltending position at the AHL level; Campbell, Husso, and prospect Sebastian Cossa will likely start the 2024-25 season as the team’s trio of netminders in AHL Grand Rapids. Even on a league minimum salary, Campbell’s .886 SV% and 3.53 GA over his last 40 starts in the regular season have not earned a spot on an NHL roster.
Outside of the additions in the net, the Red Wings bring back an energizer bunny in Fischer on a modest one-year pact. The former second-round pick suited up in 79 games for Detroit last season while scoring five goals and 19 points. Fischer also led all Red Wings’ forwards in hits with 138 body checks on the year.