Red Wings Re-Sign RFA Hronek

The Detroit Red Wings announced yesterday the signing of restricted free agent defenseman Filip Hronek to a three-year deal.

UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today re-signed defenseman Filip Hronek to a three-year contract. pic.twitter.com/mOqAzYXzog

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 3, 2021

As per usual, the team did not announce the financial terms of the deal. It was later reported to carry a $4.4 million salary cap hit.

$4.4M https://t.co/TxoLEEIxci

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 3, 2021

With Hronek signed, Givani Smith is the only remaining restricted free agent left without a contract for Detroit.

Hronek has been Detroit’s top defenseman but that has been more by default than due to his skills.  It feels somewhat unfair to knock him for that, but it does make me wonder if $4.4 million is too much.  How do you judge a number one defenseman who’s not really a number one defenseman?

That said, the Wings aren’t up against the cap and aren’t projected to be anytime soon so even if $4.4 million is too much, it probably won’t be a problem.