NHL free agency opens in less than an hour, and the Detroit Red Wings have agreed to terms with forward Patrick Eaves, as first reported by Craig Custance of the Sporting News. Eaves' deal is for three years and is worth $3.6 million ($1.2 million per year).
With Eaves agreeing to terms on Friday and Jonathan Ericsson doing the same on Thursday night, the Red Wings can turn their their focus to attempting to sign free agents and re-sign Drew Miller. The last update we heard on the Miller negotiations was that not much progress was being made, so Miller will likely become a free agent. Even so, I'm sure Detroit will continue to try and sign him, and if they don't, it could mean Kris Draper gets another year with the Red Wings.
In addition to Miller and Draper, Chris Osgood is also set to become a free agent at noon (Eastern Time). The Red Wings have already made it known they want Miller back, but that is not the case for Draper and Osgood. Detroit will explore the market before making a final decision on those two, so they could be waiting for a week or two to find out if another year with the Red Wings is in the cards.
Joey MacDonald, one of the Red Wings' other free agents, has already made it known he is not going to return to Detroit.