The Detroit Red Wings announced that they have signed right winger Patrick Eaves to a one year contract. The signing means the Wings have avoided arbitration with Eaves who was a restricted free agent.
Eaves began his hockey career attending Boston College in 2002. He preformed well at Boston College dominating over two seasons, posting point totals of 41 and 48 respectively. These outputs earned his Hockey East Player of the Year, as well as being named as an All-American, and All Conference athlete. In addition Eaves was a finalist for the Hobey Baker award, which is given to the most valuable collegiate hockey player of that season. All this led to Eaves being selected 29th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2003 National Hockey League entry draft. Eaves started his career with the Binghamton Senators, Ottawa’s American Hockey League affiliate. However it did not take long for Eaves to get called up, and impress, scoring 20 goals that season. Eaves played well the next season notching career highs in both points and assists. However he suffered a head injury in the playoff which kept him out of much of the next season. That season Eaves was traded to the Hurricanes, battling a shoulder injury for much of the season, Eaves’ output was less then noteworthy. He was traded to the Boston Bruin where he was placed on waivers. In 2009 Eaves was signed by the Red Wings to a one year contract. Eaves' most recent contract will mark his second season with the club.
Detroit’s Perspective
The signing of Patrick Eaves makes strong financial sense to the Detroit Red Wings. Although the details of the deal have not yet been released, it is doubtful that Eaves will make over $1 million next season. His last contract was only worth $500,000 and being 26 he is not expected to develop that much more. This also works for the Red Wings because Eaves fits their team mold.
He is an average sized, fast winger, who is able to play on the third or fourth line as a shut down man, but still have the ability to put a couple in the net. For years the Red Wings have ran their team based on a top-six, bottom-six mentality, which involves placing your goal scores and playmakers on the top two lines, and your penalty killers and grinders on the bottom two. Eaves managed to go through a slight resurgence in Detroit last season, posting the third highest output of his career in only 65 games. Detroit is hoping that over an 82 game season Eaves may be able to be even more effective.
Eaves’ Perspective
For Patrick Eaves this deal works out great. Although we do not know the specifics as to how much money he will be earning, getting another NHL contract is important to the Calgary native. Once a highly coveted prospect, selected in the first round, Eaves has dropped a long way. Being placed on waivers and bought out by the Bruins just last season could have spelled the end of his career. Fortunately he found a home with the Red Wings. Therefore another year gives Eaves a chance to show he belongs in the NHL full time. This is an important life line for a player that has not been able to stay healthy enough to contribute a full 82 game season.
The Eaves deal is another calculated move by Detroit general manager Ken Holland, he acquires a bottom-six forward at low cost and rounds out his line up. For Eaves it provides him with another opportunity to show that he can still perform at the NHL level.
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