The Detroit Red Wings signed top defenseman Moritz Seider to a seven-year deal worth almost $60 million on Thursday.
The annual average value of the contract is $8.55 million.
The Red Wings took the ice for the first time in training camp on Thursday without Seider, No. 1 on their defense depth chart, but word spread soon after that the restricted free agent had agreed to a deal.
The Detroit Free Press reported Thursday that the Red Wings had about $8.7 million left to work with, and the team was able to slip Seider into that slot.
On Monday, general manager Steve Yzerman revealed that a deal was forthcoming, per the Free Press.
“I’m hopeful we can get a deal done at some point — sooner than later would be better for both parties,” he said. “I don’t think we’re terribly far apart, but hopefully we can progress to get him here as soon as possible.”
Seider, 23, was selected sixth overall by the Red Wings in the 2019 NHL Draft. In his three NHL seasons, he has never missed a game.
The native of Germany scored a career-high nine goals to go with 33 assists last season. In 246 career games, he has 134 points (21 goals, 113 assists).
Seider won the Calder trophy as the NHL’s top rookie for the 2021-22 season.