PORTAGE, Mich — Danny DeKeyser is enjoying the offseason and not wasting much time worrying about a new contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
DeKeyser was back in West Michigan this weekend to take part in the Western Michigan Hockey Alumni and Friends weekend. He took part in the alumni scrimmage game at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night and then played a round of golf at The Moors Golf Club in Portage on Saturday.
“I love coming here every year,” said DeKeyser. “Every time you’re out here you see the old alumni, some older and some younger, but it doesn’t really matter. We’re all Broncos, and everyone’s just really happy to be here.”
DeKeyser, 24, just finished his first full season with the Detroit Red Wings, scoring four goals and adding 19 assists while being a plus-10 in 65 games. He played in all five of the Red Wings playoff games against the Boston Bruins.
“Obviously wish we did a little bit better and made it a little bit further in the playoffs, but I thought we grew a lot as a team,” said DeKeyser. “Some guys stepped in who nobody really thought could play or didn’t know how they could play, and they really proved a lot of people wrong.”
Now he’s a restricted free agent and is simply waiting to sign a new deal with the Red Wings.
“There won’t be any problems,” said DeKeyser about the negotiations. “It’ll be done before camp. So, no one needs to worry about that.”
The Red Wings were shutout in their attempts to sign a right-handed shooting defenseman via free agency. Some have wondered if free agents are refusing to sign with the Red Wings because they don’t want to play for head coach Mike Babcock. DeKeyser discussed those rumors as well with FOX 17. You can see his response in the video below.
