Five-plus hours into free agency, the Detroit Red Wings made their biggest signing.
J.T. Compher, who has flirted with 20 goals in each of the past two seasons, was signed for five years and $25.5 million. Compher, 28, won the Stanley Cup in 2022 with the Colorado Avalanche, and recorded a career high 52 points this past season. With an annual average value of $5.1 million, Compher's contract places third among Wings forwards behind Dylan Larkin ($8.7 million) and Andrew Copp ($5.625 million).
Shortly after free agency began at noon, the Wings signed goaltenders James Reimer and Alex Lyon, defenseman Justin Holl and forward Daniel Sprong.