DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings have signed free-agent forward Patrick Eaves to a US$500,000, one-year contract.
Eaves is entering his fifth season in the NHL. He had six goals, eight assists and 31 penalty minutes with Carolina last season. The 25-year-old native of Calgary scored 20 goals for Ottawa during his rookie season of 2005-2006 and had 14 goals and 18 assists a season later.
The Western Conference champion Red Wings need forward help, having lost Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky and Mikael Samuelsson this off-season.