Wigns Sign Fischer to 3-Year Deal

The Detroit Red Wings announced on Monday that they had signed restricted free agent defenseman Jiri Fischer to a three-year deal. As per club policy, the financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Fischer was Detroit’s first-round pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and has spent his entire five-year career with the Red Wings.

“Jiri is a young and very talented player who is a big part of our future,” said Red Wings’ general manager Ken Holland. “We’re happy to have him signed for the next three years.”

The 24-year-old Fischer has scored eight goals and added 44 assists in 283 career games. He flourished playing with veteran Chris Chelios during the 2001-02 season but missed most of the 2002-03 season recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and spent 2003-04 trying to get back to the level of play he had reached two years earlier.

With Fischer’s signing, forward Pavel Datsyuk is left as Detroit’s lone restricted free agent. Defenseman Chris Chelios is an unrestricted free agent but is close to re-signing with the Red Wings. UFA Mathieu Schneider is not close to a deal with Detroit but is still listening to offers. Captain Steve Yzerman is a free agent in name only as he will be back with the Red Wings once he decides whether or not he will reitre.