Wings Sign Dandenault, Kronvall

The Detroit Red Wings signed defenseman Mathieu Dandenault to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Reportedly, the contract is worth slightly more than the $1.3 million qualifying offer the Red Wings made to Dandenault on July 1.

By signing with Detroit, Dandenault, 27, avoided salary arbitration.

In the 2002-2003 campaign, Dandenault had four goals and fifteen assists in seventy-four games. He also had sixty-four penalty minutes.

“We felt he took a big step in development, especially in the second half of last season,” general manager Ken Holland said in a statement. “He has steadily improved from playing at forward into a solid NHL defenseman and we expect he will continue to improve.”

Dandenault was drafted by Detroit with the team’s second pick in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.

Detroit also signed Swedish defenseman Niklas Kronvall to a two-year contract. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not announced.

Kronvall was the twenty-ninth overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the last four seasons playing with Djurgardens IF Stockholm of the Swedish Elite League.

If Kronvall doesn’t make the Red Wings’ roster in training camp, he will play with Detroit’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.