Wings sign Ritola to three-year deal
Swedish forward expected to fight for 2010-11 roster spot
Wednesday, 05.19.2010 / 11:21 AM
/ News
By Todd Beam
- Media Relations Manager
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DETROIT -- The Red Wings signed forward Mattias Ritola to a three-year contract. In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Ritola, 23, was Detroit’s fourth round pick (103rd overall) in the 2005 draft. The Borlange, Sweden, native has spent the past three seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. In 2009-10, he scored a career-high 19 goals and tied a career-high with 42 points. In 211 career games with the Griffins, he has 106 points (41-65-106) and 144 penalty minutes.
“Mattias showed steady improvement in each of his three years in the American Hockey League’” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “We look forward to having him come into training camp this September ready to take the next step and compete for a job on our roster.”
Ritola has played in seven career NHL games with Detroit. He recorded his first career point when he assisted on a Tomas Kopecky goal on March 16, 2008 at Columbus. Ritola appeared in five regular-season games with the Red Wings in 2009-10, averaging 11:41 of ice time and made his Stanley Cup playoffs debut on May 6, 2010 in Detroit’s 7-1 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Ritola, 23, was Detroit’s fourth round pick (103rd overall) in the 2005 draft. The Borlange, Sweden, native has spent the past three seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. In 2009-10, he scored a career-high 19 goals and tied a career-high with 42 points. In 211 career games with the Griffins, he has 106 points (41-65-106) and 144 penalty minutes.
“Mattias showed steady improvement in each of his three years in the American Hockey League’” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “We look forward to having him come into training camp this September ready to take the next step and compete for a job on our roster.”
Ritola has played in seven career NHL games with Detroit. He recorded his first career point when he assisted on a Tomas Kopecky goal on March 16, 2008 at Columbus. Ritola appeared in five regular-season games with the Red Wings in 2009-10, averaging 11:41 of ice time and made his Stanley Cup playoffs debut on May 6, 2010 in Detroit’s 7-1 win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
