The Detroit Red Wings have come to terms with one of their unrestricted free agent forwards, coming to a two-year contract extension with Kyle Criscuolo. The minor league veteran will avoid the open market and return to the organization he has spent a good chunk of his professional career with. The financial details have not yet been released.
Criscuolo, 29, wore an “A” as an alternate captain this season for the Grand Rapids Griffins, scoring 11 goals and 19 points in 29 games. The former Harvard standout has spent the majority of his career to this point in the minor leagues, getting just a nine-game taste of the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres in 2017-18. His best years have come with the Griffins, including a Calder Cup-winning season in 2016-17 when he had 41 points in 76 games. That kind of experience and success will only help the other young prospects in the Detroit pipeline as they come through the AHL locker room.
Though he will require waivers to return to the minor leagues, that shouldn’t be an issue for Criscuolo or the Red Wings. He’ll serve as organizational depth this season, while being eligible for call-up in an emergency situation.