The Detroit Red Wings have agreed to terms with Adam Erne on a two year contract.
Erne, a 26-year-old left-wing, was the Red Wings leading goal scorer last season after the departure of Anthony Mantha via trade. His 11 goals in 45 games were also a career high.
Originally acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019, Erne will continue to provide added depth and scoring to a young Red Wings team.
It is unlikely that he will maintain his position as the teams leading goal scorer in the future, but being able to count on his 10-15 goals over the course of a full season will be a tremendous help to a team that struggled to score last season.
While terms of the extension were not disclosed, CapFriendly.com has the deal worth $2.1 million per season.
General Manager Steve Yzerman has once again opted for a low-cost and short-term deal to help build out his young roster. This strategy looks to pay off in the future when he has to lock up some of these young prospects, such as Moritz Seider, to long-term deals.
Currently, no Red Wings player is signed past the 2023-24 season, leaving Yzerman with plenty of flexibility as his team and draft picks mature.
Erne, without a doubt, will have the opportunity to prove himself over the next two years to be part of the Red Wings long term plans. If he can produce at the same pace as last season, earning that spot shouldn’t be much of an issue.