Red Wings Sign Doug Janik to Two-Year Extension

According to Ansar Khan of mlive.com, the Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman Doug Janik to a two-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal is a two-way contract for next season and a one-way contract for the 2011-12 season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 13 games with the Red Wings last season, Janik scored two assists and 18 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 66 games with Grand Rapids of the AHL, scoring six goals and 31 assists for 37 points and 84 penalty minutes. In 174 career NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, and Detroit Red Wings, he has three goals and 15 assists for 18 points and 141 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Red Wings. Janik plays with lots of toughness and brings plenty of veteran depth to the blueline, so he will be a decent acquisition to Grand Rapids' defense next season. If he does play any games with the Red Wings next season, it will likely be in the event of an injury and as a sixth or possibly seventh defenseman.