DETROIT, Mich. — A childhood dream has come true for the only Grand Rapids Griffin to ever hail from the city after the Detroit Red Wings kicked of the NHL free agent period Friday.
Grand Rapids native Luke Glendening to his first contract with the franchise.
Glendening, a forward from East Grand Rapids, signed with the Griffins in June 2012. He scored 16 points in the AHL playoffs this season, as Grand Rapids won their first-ever Calder Cup.
The Wings also signed two veteran faces of NHL franchises, Senators Right Wing Daniel Alfredsson and Panthers Center Stephen Weiss.
Alfredsson has signed a one-year-contract after spending his entire 17-year career with Ottawa. He’d been their captain since 1999. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, and points.
Weiss, who signed a five-year, $24.5 million deal, is Florida’s all-time games played leader. He spent 11 seasons with the Panthers, scoring 145 goals and dishing out 249 assists. He’s scored 20 or more goals in three of the last four seasons.
