Wings Sign Defenseman Commodore

The Detroit Red Wings signed free agent defenseman Mike Commodore to a one-year deal on Friday.

The contract is reportedly for $1 million, though financial terms were not announced.

Commodore was bought out by the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier in the day. He played 20 games for Columbus in 2010-11, scoring two goals and adding four assists before being sent to the AHL’s Springfield Falcons.

In 2009, Commodore famously told the Columbus Dispatch, “Mike Babcock was without a doubt an obstacle in my career.”

Commodore broke into the NHL under Babcock in Anaheim before he was traded to Calgary.

“I wanted to prove him wrong, I’m not going to lie,” Commodore continued. “I used him as big-time motivation. I thought he put his best foot forward to bury me.”

With Commodore signed, the Red Wings now have seven defensemen under NHL contracts for the 2011-12 season.