FOX Sports Detroit's Art Regner is reporting that the Detroit Red Wings have signed goaltender Ty Conklin. The deal, according to Regner, is for one year and is worth less than $1 million.
When word leaked out early Tuesday that Chris Osgood was set to retire, the expectation was for Conklin to be brought back by the Red Wings. Regner says the move is expected to be officially announced on Wednesday morning, and it will fill the void at the backup goaltender spot on the roster.
Conklin's first stint with the Red Wings was in 2008-09. He and Osgood split the regular season starts and Conklin ended up winning 25 games. He helped Detroit finish second in the Western Conference, and the team ultimately lost to Conklin's former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the Stanley Cup final.
After the loss to the Penguins, Conklin was not brought back. The Red Wings decided to move forward with Osgood and Jimmy Howard, and Conklin ended up signing with the St. Louis Blues. He spent the previous two seasons with the Blues and won a total of 18 games.
If Conklin is in fact back with the Red Wings, he will serve as Howard's backup during the 2011-12 season.