Ben Chiarot signed a three-year, $11.55 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. It starts next season and has an average annual value of $3.85 million.
The 34-year-old defenseman was in the last season of a four-year, $19 million contract ($4.75 million AAV) he signed with the Red Wings on July 13, 2022, and could have become an unrestricted free agent. He has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 54 games and is third on the Red Wings in average ice time (21:07). He played an NHL career-high 81 games last season and skated 22:19 in his 700th NHL game, a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in Detroit on Feb. 27, 2025.
“There’s a million reasons: team first of all and what goes on, on the ice,” Chiarot said. “The people here, trainers, equipment staff, guys on the team, coaches, everybody. I really enjoy coming to the rink every day, made it really easy to come back here. We love Detroit. My family’s really happy here. From all angles, it was a no-brainer.”
Chosen by the Atlanta Thrashers in the fourth round (No. 120) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Chiarot has 181 points (49 goals, 132 assists) in 777 regular-season games for the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers and Red Wings, and eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 66 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Red Wings (32-17-5) are second in the Atlantic Division, one point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning. They host the Washington Capitals at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+), with forward Patrick Kane one point from passing Mike Modano (1,374) for most in NHL history by a United States-born player.
Detroit has missed the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons since 2016-17 after qualifying for a team-record 25 straight and winning the Stanley Cup four times (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008)
“It’s a first-class organization,” Chiarot said, “starts at the top with (owner Chris Ilitch) right on down through (general manager) Steve (Yzerman), the coaching staff, trainers who have been here a long time. They’ve been here when the team was at its peak and through the low years here. The team’s well on its way back up, so the people surrounding the organization are top notch, makes it really nice coming to the rink every day.”
