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Detroit Red Wings sign Mike Green to a two year deal

By Ash Thompson

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 25: Mike Green #25 of the Detroit Red Wings tries to control the puck in front of Brandon Saad #20 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at Little Caesars Arena on January 25, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Chicago won the game 5-1. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 25: Mike Green #25 of the Detroit Red Wings tries to control the puck in front of Brandon Saad #20 of the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at Little Caesars Arena on January 25, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Chicago won the game 5-1. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Mike Green will sign a two year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The AAV for the deal is $5.75 million. Further details have not been leaked.

A few more of the terms have been released on the Mike Green contract. The Detroit Red Wings defenseman will make $5.75 million AAV for two seasons with the team. Green is still a viable power play quarterback, and was expected to be one of, if not the highest paid blue liners in NHL free agency.

Of Green’s eight goals in the 2017-18 season, seven were on the power play. There are teams in the NHL who would do almost anything for a right shot defenseman who can bend the twine on the power play with any regularity at all. Green was held out as trade bait at the deadline. Nobody came to the table with anything Wings GM Ken Holland thought was worth more than having first crack at Green’s services next season.

This is not a player without value to a rebuilding team. An established power play quarterback can insulate younger players from having a role thrust on them that they are not ready for. He is also a player that can move up and down the defensive pairings as required. Logging major minutes at this point is likely a short term solution, but better Green than a 19-20 year old who is simply not ready.

Having extra minutes thrust on them too soon has been a common scapegoat for many younger defensive prospects who did not pan out. Particularly, taking the power play quarterback role early on seems to slow the player’s defensive development long term.

Green is not the player he once was, but this is not a bad contract. There are plenty of players with a similar AAV who are acting as boat anchors for their teams. There are teams who will look at The second year of Green’s deal as a good thing when the trade deadline approaches.

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Details regarding the no trade or no move clauses has not yet been leaked. That is where we will see the true value of this contract. If Ken Holland paid a little extra to keep from being under a NTC/NMC with Green, this was a good deal for the Red Wings.

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