Detroit Red Wings
· 2026-07-14
The Detroit Red Wings (10th in Eastern Conference, 41-31, on a three-game losing streak) have signed Michigan native Ronnie Attard to a one-year, two-way contract, deepening their defensive corps with a player who grew up in the Mitten State. Attard, a 6'4", 210-pound defenseman, spent last season with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, and now brings local ties to a Red Wings organization already stocked with offseason free-agent additions.
Attard’s hockey roots run deep in Michigan. Raised in White Lake Township, he played youth hockey with the Honeybaked AAA program before joining the USHL’s Tri-City Storm. The Philadelphia Flyers selected him in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, but he returned to Michigan to attend Western Michigan University, where he spent three seasons with the Broncos before turning pro.
His NHL debut came in 2022-23 with the Flyers, though he appeared in just two games. After a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024, he joined the Avalanche last July and logged 44 AHL games with Colorado, posting three goals and 14 assists. In 29 career NHL contests, Attard has two goals and four assists—modest numbers, but his physical presence and experience could help fill a gap on Detroit’s back end.
General manager Steve Yzerman has been aggressive in the offseason, adding scoring punch with Viktor Arvidsson and physical depth with Keegan Kolesar. Attard’s arrival fits that pattern: a veteran presence who can contribute in the defensive zone while providing a local connection. With the Red Wings currently on a three-game losing streak, depth along the blue line is critical as they push for playoff contention.
Attard isn’t the only new face from Michigan this offseason. The Red Wings have also signed forwards Chase Stillman, Cameron Butler, and Wilmer Skoog, along with defenseman Jacob Bryson. That influx of local talent could help with locker-room chemistry, especially as the team looks to rebound from a recent slump.
Attard’s immediate challenge is earning a full-time role in Detroit’s lineup. His experience in the AHL suggests he’s ready for NHL minutes, but he’ll need to prove he can handle the speed and physicality of the NHL’s top tier. With the Red Wings sitting 10th in the East, every defenseman counts—especially one who understands the pressures of a playoff push.
Yzerman’s offseason moves have been about balance: adding firepower up front while shoring up defensive weaknesses. Attard’s signing is another piece in that puzzle, one that could pay dividends if he clicks with the Red Wings’ existing group. For now, he’ll focus on earning his keep in training camp and early-season games as the team looks to turn its recent losing streak around.