Pius Suter announced his NHL arrival last season with a hat trick against the Red Wings in the sixth game of his career. He'd eventually finish fifth among rookies in goals.
His next stop is Detroit.
The Red Wings signed Pius to a two-year, $6.5 million deal Wednesday, after the Blackhawks declined to make the 25-year-old center a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent -- reportedly fearing what he might be awarded in arbitration. Chicago's loss looks like Steve Yzerman's gain.
In Suter, the Wings are getting a potential piece of their future. He's a two-way center who played second-line minutes on a Blackhawks team that spent much of last season chasing the playoffs. He flashed his offensive upside with 27 points in 55 games and garnered votes for Rookie of the Year.
5'9 but quick on his skates, Suter figures to assume a second- or third-line center role in Detroit. The Wings needed more depth down the middle after Luke Glendening departed for Dallas in free agency, and Suter fits the timeline of their rebuild. He's a growing player for a growing team.