Defenseman Derek Meech has been re-signed by the Red Wings. Meech's contract is only one year long and is worth $500,000.
Meech, like Patrick Eaves and Drew Miller, was a restricted free agent who was expected to sign rather early on in the summer, especially since he filed for arbitration and would have had a hearing next week. Because he signed the offer the Wings gave him, however, that hearing is no longer necessary.
Meech's chances of actually sticking around with the Red Wings will come down to whether or not he can make the team as the sixth defenseman. The Wings have their top five defensemen in place, leaving that sixth spot open. Meech will be one of the players involved in the competition for that spot, and he won't be alone, especially if the Wings sign another defenseman like they hope to.
The other notable restricted free agents that need to be signed still are Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm. Previously it was reported that they will not be signed until later in the summer, and there has been no indication that deals will happen sometime soon.