from Nolan Bianchi Of The Detroit News,

Remember when the Red Wings' fan base was heartbroken about Bobby Ryan not making the team last season? Well, congratulations. You have a new Bobby Ryan: His name is David Perron.

He fills the same exact function — a grizzled veteran with a right-handed shot that can make his money on the power play and be a reliable middle-6 scorer — but unlike Ryan, Perron is still at the top of his game and is averaging 0.89 points per game over his last five seasons.

Remember Christian Djoos, Mathias Brome, Mitchell Stephens, Jon Merrill, and all the other one-year acquisitions that piled up, offseason after offseason, with the hope that they would play just good enough to net a fourth-rounder at the deadline?

Rejoice, Red Wings fans, the league-minimum signings are old news. In its place have come deals that will either help the team win now, develop talent for the future, or even do a little bit of both.

Good luck waiting for opening night Oct. 14.

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