Today is the last chance for three Detroit Red Wings draft picks to be offered NHL contracts by the team.
The club must offer NHL contracts to draftees Theodor Niederbach, Tnias Mathurin, and Jan Bednar before 5 p.m. ET today. The deadline to sign the three players or forfeit their rights to the club is June 1.
Bednar, drafted 107th overall in 2020, spent the previous two seasons on an AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s top development team. However, he played all of his games with the ECHL Toledo Walleye.
Bednar may sign with the Griffins or the Walleyes again. However, the Red Wings recently signed collegiate goalkeeper Carter Gylander to a professional contract. Next season, he will most likely play for the Walleyes.
Red Wings Once Held High Hopes For Niederbach
When he was playing for Sweden at the World Juniors alongside other Detroit prospects Lucas Raymond, Elmer Soderblom, and Albert Johansson, the Red Wings were optimistic that Niederbach would eventually become a member of the club’s future. However, the bloom faded as Niederbach struggled to maintain consistency with three different SHL clubs.
Niederbach never scored more than nine goals in a single season while playing for Frolunda, Rogle, or MoDo. He is under contract with MoDo through the 2024-25 season.
Mathurin’s chances of obtaining an NHL contract were undoubtedly hurt by missing too much time during important development seasons. Cancellations due to COVID-19 cost him one OHL season, and shoulder surgery last season limited him to one regular-season game with the North Bay Batallion.
Last month, the Red Wings chose to sign fellow draft pick and OHL defenceman Andrew Gibson from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, implying that the shutdown defender’s fate was sealed. Gibson is likewise a competent defender, although he has more offensive potential than Mathurin.
There is already talk that Mathurin will continue with the Batallion for his overage season.
