Red Wings Sign Pair of Depth Defensemen

The Red Wings are signing a pair of depth defensemen: Jordan Oesterle from the Arizona Coyotes and Ryan Murphy from the American Hockey League’s Henderson Silver Knights.

Hearing the Detroit Red Wings are close to signing Coyotes UFA D-man Jordan Oesterle to a two-year deal.

— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) July 28, 2021

The Detroit #RedWings today signed defenseman Ryan Murphy to a one-year contract. pic.twitter.com/8vM95RUy5L

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 28, 2021

Oesterle, a Dearborn Heights native and Western Michigan University product, effectively replaces Alex Biega in the Detroit system while Murphy, signed to a two-way deal, can be expected to spend most of his time with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

This effectively locks in Detroit’s blueline for the coming season as follows:

Filip Hronek – Danny DeKeyser
Moritz Seider – Nick Leddy
Troy Stetcher – Marc Staal
Gustav Lindstrom
Oesterle

Murphy helps fill gaps in a Griffins’ defensive corps that could be decimated by free agent departures.  Captain Brian Lashoff and veteran presence Dylan McIlrath are both free agents and longtime Griffin Joe Hicketts just signed with the Minnesota Wild.