Danny DeKeyser

Toronto Marlies Sign Danny DeKeyser To PTO

October 19, 2022 at 8:52 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 4 Comments

With the Toronto Maple Leafs struggling to start the year and Jake Muzzin already out due to injury, the team’s defensive depth is being tested. Today, the organization has brought in a veteran name to see if he has any game left. Danny DeKeyser has signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, giving him another chance to show what he can do.

DeKeyser was on a PTO with the Vancouver Canucks earlier this summer but failed to earn a contract at the end of camp. This deal with a minor league club likely isn’t what he was hoping for, though if there is an AHL club to go to, the Marlies would be near the top of the list. The Maple Leafs organization is more than willing to pay their minor leaguers handsomely, as you can see by the one-way deals that Kyle Clifford, Joey Anderson, Adam Gaudette, and the recently recalled Victor Mete and Wayne Simmonds are on this year.

If DeKeyser can show he still has some juice, an NHL deal would allow him to serve as extra depth in Toronto, something the team could quickly need. Muzzin is out indefinitely with a neck injury, Timothy Liljegren is still working his way back, Jordie Benn has only recently gotten back on the ice, and Carl Dahlstrom is probably going to miss the whole season. Not to mention Toronto has already lost to the teams that finished 32nd and 31st (Montreal and Arizona) last season.

It’s time to throw spaghetti against the wall and see if it sticks, meaning the 32-year-old should get a look. DeKeyser has played 547 regular season games in the league, though it has been years since he was the effective two-way force he entered as. Last season with the Detroit Red Wings (the only team he has ever played for), he registered 11 points in 59 games.

Danny DeKeyser Released From PTO

October 4, 2022 at 1:30 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 1 Comment

The Vancouver Canucks have released Danny DeKeyser from his PTO, leaving him now searching for another opportunity just a week out from the regular season. The veteran defenseman got some action in the preseason with the Canucks but apparently didn’t do enough to earn a contract with the club.

DeKeyser, 32, has spent his entire career to this point with the Detroit Red Wings, playing 547 regular season games over parts of ten seasons. Undrafted, he was a hometown kid that made good, attending Western Michigan University before making an impact with the Red Wings right away. Now, a decade later, it is not at all clear if DeKeyser’s career will continue.

Landing a spot in Vancouver did always seem like a longshot, given how many bodies they already have for the blue line. With the continued emergence of Jack Rathbone, it was even tighter for a veteran defender like DeKeyser. Perhaps he showed enough in his short Canucks outing to land a deal somewhere else, or maybe he’ll have to wait for an injury to pop up.

Either way, there isn’t much time for him to catch on if he wants to start the season on an NHL roster. DeKeyser joins Thomas Hickey and James Neal, who were cut from their PTOs yesterday, as veteran names who may have to settle for minor league jobs if they want to continue their playing careers.

Vancouver Canucks Sign Danny DeKeyser To PTO

September 9, 2022 at 9:40 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 2 Comments

The Vancouver Canucks are bringing in some extra defensive depth, signing free agent Danny DeKeyser to a professional tryout. The veteran will attend training camp with the Canucks and try to earn an NHL contract.

DeKeyser, 32, has spent his entire career to this point with the Detroit Red Wings, playing in 547 games over parts of ten seasons. Undrafted, he was a hometown kid that made good, playing for Western Michigan before going almost directly to the NHL as a steady two-way presence.

With a career-high in points set way back in 2014-15, there isn’t a lot of offense left in the veteran. DeKeyser registered just 11 assists last season and failed to score a single goal. But for experience and defensive ability – especially on a PTO – you could certainly do worse.

The Canucks, who are currently over the salary cap ceiling, may even have a deal done with DeKeyser, whose agent told ESPN just a week ago that he was confident his client would get a contract before training camp. As we’ve seen in the past, sometimes teams that have little cap flexibility bring a veteran in on a PTO only to sign them just as the season begins, once some other mechanisms (like in-season LTIR) can be used.

If DeKeyser does land a spot with the Canucks, he would be joining a defense corps that has both aging veterans and young talents. Quinn Hughes leads the way and Travis Dermott was brought in as a younger option, but Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tyler Myers, and Luke Schenn are all on the wrong side of 30 and likely not bringing as much to the table as they once did.

Adding another piece for a low cost (even perhaps league minimum in this case), certainly seems prudent, especially when Tucker Poolman’s status is still up in the air.

Latest On Danny DeKeyser

September 1, 2022 at 9:06 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 9 Comments

When there are relatively young offensive players like Evan Rodrigues and Sonny Milano struggling to land contracts in unrestricted free agency, the landscape for some more veteran names may be even worse. Not so for Danny DeKeyser, apparently, whose agent Matt Federico told ESPN that they are confident the defenseman will be signed before training camp.

DeKeyser, 32, may have to take a “lower money deal” but Federico points to the success that Jack Johnson had with the Colorado Avalanche this year as an example of what the long-time Detroit Red Wing could offer.

Over a ten-year career, DeKeyser has 547 games played, all of them with the Red Wings. In the most recent season, he recorded 11 points in 59 appearances, while averaging over 18 minutes a night. Pummeled with defensive-zone starts and penalty-killing duties his overall possession stats don’t look strong, but as a veteran depth option there are certainly worse directions a team could go.

Johnson, for example, signed a one-year, $750K deal with the Avalanche last fall, and logged just under 17 minutes a night for the Stanley Cup champions in the regular season. That performance took him to another one-year deal this year (at $950K this time) giving him the chance to continue his career even at age 35.

Now as the calendar turns to September and teams prepare for training camp, there may be some added pressure on any negotiations that are currently happening.

Free Agent Profile: Danny DeKeyser

August 15, 2022 at 6:37 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 6 Comments

The lack of movement on the salary cap in recent seasons has caused specific contracts to look worse than they otherwise would have. That especially holds true for players who signed mid-tier, long-term deals in the mid-2010s who haven’t quite been able to hold up their previous standard of play.

Longtime Detroit Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser fits that bill perfectly, although we can’t discount the role injuries have played in his decline. An undrafted free agent signing out of Western Michigan University, DeKeyser was quietly an important part of Detroit’s post-Nicklas Lidstrom transformation on defense. During his first full NHL season in 2013-14, DeKeyser stayed in the NHL full-time, amassing 23 points in 65 games and averaging over 21 minutes per game, good enough for a handful of Calder Trophy votes.

After signing a six-year, $30MM contract following an arbitration filing in the summer of 2016, however, DeKeyser’s play (and contract value) began to diminish almost immediately. He did play a full 82 games during the first season of the contract, but after 2016-17, DeKeyser never played more than 65 games in a season. After injuries limited him to just eight games in 2019-20, DeKeyser’s ice time dipped to bottom-pairing minutes for the contract’s last two seasons.

Veteran defenseman will always carry value to NHL teams, though. While Detroit is looking to hand the keys over to a young defense core of Moritz Seider, Filip Hronek, and Simon Edvinsson, another team may still see a use for DeKeyser as an extra body or a bottom-pairing man. Injuries will always be a factor, though, and retirement remains on the table for the Detroit native.

Stats

2021-22: 59 GP, 0-11-11, -8 rating, 26 PIMs, 57 shots, 44.0 CF%, 102 blocks, 18:30 ATOI
Career: 547 GP, 33-113-146, +4 rating, 266 PIMs, 581 shots, 48.2 CF%, 910 blocks, 20:46 ATOI

Potential Suitors

At this point in the offseason, all the big fish have settled (especially on defense) and teams are mostly set for the upcoming season. Depth adds and AHL bodies can make or break a team’s season in some circumstances, though, and acquiring DeKeyser in that role at least gives teams a “we know what you are” option. The best balance for a team looking to acquire DeKeyser is likely as an insurance policy for a spot penciled for a younger, more inexperienced defenseman who has a high degree of uncertainty in their development.

If DeKeyser wants to stay in the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers have an obvious need for this role. Their third-pairing spot at left defense is a battle between Libor Hajek and Zac Jones, both players who either have limited (or poor) NHL results so far. Signing DeKeyser doesn’t preclude either from playing NHL minutes if it’s what’s best for the team and their development, but it gives the Rangers an insurance policy that they currently don’t have. With Jarred Tinordi being the only other left defenseman under contract in the organization with NHL experience, DeKeyser fills a hole on the team’s depth chart.

Similarly, the Islanders are missing their resident old-man defender after letting both Andy Greene and Zdeno Chara go this offseason. While Robin Salo and (the other) Sebastian Aho do carry some promise for third-pairing roles this season alongside Scott Mayfield, DeKeyser gives that veteran insurance policy, something the Islanders undoubtedly value highly after last season’s catastrophes.

Projected Contract

With DeKeyser’s declining play and sky-high injury risk, anything above a league-minimum contract is likely unattainable. A professional tryout contract if he does opt to continue his playing career might be a more realistic option at this stage.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Injury Notes: Vrana, Blueger, Karlsson

March 8, 2022 at 2:47 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 2 Comments

The Detroit Red Wings have officially activated Jakub Vrana from injured reserve, and expect him to play in tonight’s game against the Arizona Coyotes. Vrana has yet to play this season after undergoing shoulder surgery in late September, a procedure that has kept him out much longer than the initial four-month timeline. Vrana lit Detroit on fire last season after coming over from the Washington Capitals, scoring eight times in 11 games including a four-goal effort in his fourth appearance. He’ll try to continue that success now that he’s back, though it certainly may take him some time to get up to speed.

Interestingly enough, the Red Wings have actually moved Danny DeKeyser to injured reserve to make room. DeKeyser cleared waivers earlier today, which means he could have been assigned to the minor leagues. Instead, he’ll go to the injured list meaning he can stay with the team as he deals with whatever this new ailment is.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have their own forward returning, as they have activated Teddy Blueger from injured reserve. Blueger hasn’t played since he suffered a broken jaw in a January game against the Winnipeg Jets, but is expected to resume his spot as a checking-line center for the Penguins tonight. The 27-year-old was actually on track to blow by his career-highs in goals and points before the injury (and still likely will by the end of the season) after scoring eight goals and 17 points in his first 40 games. Blueger missed 16 games following his jaw surgery.
Erik Karlsson could be back this week as well, as San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner told reporters including Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group that the veteran defenseman could suit up on Thursday. Karlsson was in the midst of a bounce-back season before undergoing forearm surgery in January and hasn’t played in nearly two months. In his first 33 games, the two-time Norris Trophy winner had 26 points, already eclipsing his total from the 2020-21 season.

Danny DeKeyser Clears Waivers

March 8, 2022 at 1:00 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 2 Comments

March 8: DeKeyser has cleared waivers and can now be assigned to the minor leagues. With Vrana already confirmed for tonight’s game, the team will need to move someone off the roster to make room for his return. If they do assign DeKeyser to the AHL, $1.125MM of his cap hit would be buried. Sustr meanwhile was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks.

March 7: After claiming Olli Juolevi yesterday, the Detroit Red Wings have placed a veteran defenseman on waivers. Danny DeKeyser has been waived, along with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Andrej Sustr, according to Chris Johnston of TSN.

DeKeyser, 32, cleared waivers multiple times last season but has spent this year on the active roster while he plays out the end of his long-term contract. Signed to a six-year, $30MM deal in 2016, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career this offseason. Where his career goes next is unclear, as the once stalwart two-way defender has found his role diminished in recent years.

Interestingly enough, at even-strength DeKeyser has played almost exclusively alongside rookie phenom Moritz Seider, giving the young defenseman a stable veteran partner to lean on as he transitions to NHL life. But it’s that even-strength ice time that has come way down, with DeKeyser averaging less than four other regular defensemen in Detroit. On the other hand, the penalty kill is where he still provides some nice value, logging the most short-handed time of any Red Wings player, but none of that would suggest that a team would take a chance on his $5MM cap hit through waivers. With Juolevi now in the fold–and a roster spot likely needed for Jakub Vrana’s impending activation–it’s not clear what role DeKeyser will have on the Red Wings down the stretch.

For Sustr, waivers is nothing new. He has already cleared them before the season began, and several other times throughout his NHL career. This season he has played in 15 games for the Lightning, basically serving more as a practice player and injury insurance than anything else. If he clears, he’ll likely be bounced up and down between the AHL and NHL for another chunk of the season.

Danny DeKeyser Removed From COVID Protocol

December 3, 2021 at 10:03 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 8 Comments

The Detroit Red Wings have announced a reinforcement, as Danny DeKeyser has been removed from the league’s COVID protocol. DeKeyser hasn’t taken the ice for the team since November 20, but can now return for their match tomorrow night if needed.

The 31-year-old has suited up 19 times for the Red Wings this season and is still averaging close to 20 minutes a night in his tenth season. On the final season of a six-year, $30MM deal, he’s played a good chunk of the year with young Moritz Seider, giving him a veteran partner to lean on as he learns the league. There have also been healthy scratches for DeKeyser though, as the team is clearly moving away from the old guard toward a new, young group of defensemen. Whether he goes directly back into the lineup isn’t clear at this point.

Still, after Tyler Bertuzzi entered the protocol recently, it’s good news that the Red Wings are also getting an extra body back. The team may be surprising some with a 12-9-3 record through their first 24, winning each of the last four games, but with two star rookies and a legitimate goaltending tandem, things are looking up in the Motor City.

Danny DeKeyser Enters COVID Protocol

November 24, 2021 at 6:12 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 3 Comments

According to MLive’s Ansar Khan, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser has entered the league’s COVID protocol.

While DeKeyser’s play has suffered over the past few seasons due to a variety of injuries, he’s played a semi-important role for Detroit this season. He’s been partnered with Calder Trophy candidate Moritz Seider on the blueline, but he still has just two assists in 19 games.

With DeKeyser out, Troy Stecher’s injury, and Marc Staal dealing with illness, Detroit’s defensive depth is running thin. Dan Renouf was recalled from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins today, and he could make his season debut for Detroit Wednesday night against the St. Louis Blues.

Detroit’s cooled off after a hot start, going 4-5-1 in their past ten games. While there have been encouraging signs of life out of this long-rebuilding franchise this season, their time to shine likely isn’t quite here yet.

In DeKeyser’s absence, increased minutes are likely coming for Nick Leddy, who’s been manning second-pairing duties with Filip Hronek.

Expansion Primer: Detroit Red Wings

July 3, 2021 at 6:01 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 9 Comments

Over the next few weeks, we will be breaking down each team’s situation as it pertains to the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. Which players are eligible, who will likely warrant protection, and which ones may be on the block to avoid the risk of losing them for nothing? Each team is required to submit their protection lists by 4:00 PM CDT on July 17th. The full eligibility rules can be found here, while CapFriendly has an expansion tool to make your own lists.

The last time we gathered here to determine the Detroit Red Wings’ expansion draft considerations, the team was in a steep downward decline. Yet they still ended up losing a bit of a diamond in the rough, as the Vegas Golden Knights selected forward Tomas Nosek. Nosek’s been a contributor in a bottom-six role every season in Vegas’ history, robbing Detroit of some quality depth. Now, with Detroit having hit the rock-bottom of their rebuild, their expansion situation looks fairly clear-cut this time around. With a lot of young talent exempt (and no Jimmy Howard/Petr Mrazek goalie controversy), the Red Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman are in a good position coming into 2021’s Seattle expansion draft.

Key Decisions

The key decisions start with Detroit’s young forward group. They’ll undoubtedly be going with the seven forwards/three defensemen protection scheme. Four of those forward spots are relatively clear-cut, with Larkin, Bertuzzi, Fabbri, and recent acquisition Vrana being protection locks. That leaves three spots remaining, but with a mix of four veterans and young forwards competing for them.

The veteran of those candidates is Namestnikov. Signed to a two-year, $4MM deal prior to 2020-21 to provide some veteran presence during their rebuild, Namestnikov had his worst offensive season to date with just 17 points in 53 games. His defensive metrics were mediocre, which is on-brand for the versatile Russian forward. Detroit was Namestnikov’s fourth team since the beginning of 2019-20, and if left unprotected, Seattle could be his fifth.

However, there’s a trio of three younger forwards who could also vie for those spots. Erne, Rasmussen, and Svechnikov all looked good with the Wings this season. It was an especially important season for Svechnikov, who’s struggled with frequent injuries. He rebounded this year for eight points in 21 games while posting incredibly impressive possession metrics. Erne had a nice rebound season after a ghastly 2019-20 performance, scoring 11 goals and 20 points in 45 games. While his 15.5% shooting rate doesn’t scream sustainability, the 26-year-old showed nice flashes this season. There’s also Rasmussen, who’s still a developing project despite already playing in over 100 NHL contests. Drafted ninth overall in 2017, Rasmussen’s now totalled 30 points in 102 NHL games, including 12 points in 40 games last season. He’s consistently posted decent possession results, suggesting that the goal-scoring touch he had in juniors could be coming.

Detroit faces a similar quandary on defense with three names fighting for two spots. Hronek’s protection is a foregone conclusion, but Stecher, Cholowski, and Lindstrom are names that could fall into those last two spots.

Stecher sits as effectively a more impressive Namestnikov. Joining Detroit as a free agent prior to this season, Stecher settled nicely into a top-four role, posting admirable defensive metrics considering the hacked-together situation that was Detroit’s defense. However, like Namestnikov, he’s under contract for just one more season and there’s no guarantee that he stays. There’s also a pair of younger defenders in Cholowski and Lindstrom. Cholowski was a first-round pick in 2016 and showed great potential in his 2018-19 rookie season, but has stagnated at all levels since then. Detroit is willing to play the wait-and-see game with the young defender, who may see a full-time role again next year after just 16 games played in 2020-21. Lindstrom’s a year younger and doesn’t have as much upside, but he’s cobbled together four assists in 29 NHL games and could have third-pairing potential.

Projected Protection List

F Tyler Bertuzzi
F Adam Erne
F Robby Fabbri
F Dylan Larkin
F Michael Rasmussen
F Evgeny Svechnikov
F Jakub Vrana

D Dennis Cholowski
D Filip Hronek
D Troy Stecher

G Thomas Greiss

Skater Exposure Requirement Checklist

When Vegas had their expansion draft, a minimum of two forwards and one defenseman had to be exposed that were under contract and played either 40 games in the most recent season or 70 over the past two combined. Due to the pandemic, those thresholds have been changed to 27 games played in 2020-21 or 54 in 2019/20 and 2020-21 combined. In creating our expansion list for each team in this series, we will ensure that these criteria are met.

Forwards (3): Vladislav Namestnikov, Frans Nielsen, Richard Panik
Defensemen (1): Danny DeKeyser

There are very few pickings here that the Kraken would be interested in, and Detroit is likely to emerge from the expansion draft unscathed. While Detroit will have some depth forwards exposed, Seattle can likely find cheaper and better options elsewhere. Seattle could end up taking an AHL skater with limited upside like Lindstrom or Smith, or take a pending UFA like Glendening if they really don’t like any of their options.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Contract information courtesy of CapFriendly.

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