Former Vancouver Canucks forward signs multi-year extension with the Detroit Red Wings
Photo credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
A former Vancouver Canucks forward, who was set to become a free agent on July 1st, has signed a multi-year extension to remain with the Detroit Red Wings.
With the second half of the National Hockey League's 2025-26 season well underway, several teams have already begun the process of planning for the future, whether that be by locking up or trading pending unrestricted free agents.
The Vancouver Canucks have already gotten in on the action, trading away pending UFA forward Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks for an AHL defenseman and a pair of second round picks, while one of their former forward found himself earning a multi-year extension in Detroit over the weekend.
Former Vancouver Canucks forward signs multi-year extension with the Detroit Red Wings
In a press release on Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings announced that they've signed former Vancouver Canucks forward Sheldon Dries to a two-year, two-way contract extension beginning in the 2026-27 season, with financial details not being released.
"The Detroit Red Wings today signed forward Sheldon Dries to a two-year, two-way contract extension." the Red Wings said.
The Macomb, Michigan native joined the Vancouver Canucks as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2021, and would go on to spend three years with the organization including 74 games at the NHL level and 111 with the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks.
Following the 2023-24 season, the Canucks decided not to re-sign Dries, allowing him to hit the open market where would eventually join the Detroit Red Wings on the opening day of free agency.
Dries has become a key player for the Red Wings' American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he has 69 points (40 goals, 29 assists), 48 penalty minutes and is a plus-15 in 99 games with the club over the last two seasons.
His new contract extension will keep him in his home state of Michigan until he turns 34 and before he becomes a free agent again, the 31-year-old is certainly hoping that he'll have the opportunity to make his Detroit Red Wings debut, something he's been waiting to do for quite some time.
This is a great move for Sheldon Dries, someone who has worked exceptionally hard throughout his professional hockey career to get to where he is today and hopefully, he'll get another chance in the NHL as it's been nearly three years since he stepped onto the ice in the big leagues.
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Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily