RED WINGS SIGN CENTER SHELDON DRIES

The Detroit Red Wings have signed center Sheldon Dries to a two-year, two-way contract.

Dries, 30, spent the entire 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks and ranked among the team leaders with 29 goals (1st), 23 assists (7th), 52 points (T3rd), a plus-six rating (5th), 45 penalty minutes (6th), six power play goals (T2nd), 16 power play points (3rd), four shorthanded goals (1st), two game-winning goals (T7th) and 167 shots (1st) in 54 games. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound forward also recorded three points (1-2-3) in six postseason contests with Abbotsford. Dries played the majority of the 2022-23 season with the Vancouver Canucks, collecting 17 points (11-6-17) and 29 penalty minutes in 63 games. He also picked up four points (1-3-4) in two appearances with Abbotsford in 2022-23. Originally signed by the AHL’s Texas Stars as a free agent on May 10, 2017, Dries has registered 26 points (16-10-26) and 59 penalty minutes in 122 NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche and Canucks since 2018-19. Dries has also compiled 204 points (113-91-204) and 222 penalty minutes in 274 AHL games with the Stars, Colorado Eagles and Canucks.

A native of Macomb, Mich., Dries played four seasons at Western Michigan University from 2013-17, serving as team captain during his final three seasons. In total, Dries tallied 84 points (44-40-84) and 136 penalty minutes in 148 games with the Broncos, earning a place on the NCHC’s Second All-Star Team in his senior year. Prior to his collegiate career, Dries racked up 87 points (41-46-87) and 235 penalty minutes in 116 games with the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers from 2010-13, winning a Clark Cup championship in 2012 under Red Wings Head Coach Derek Lalonde. On the international stage, Dries represented Team USA at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge, logging seven points (1-6-7) and four penalty minutes in four games.