Luke Witkowski’s phone blows up after the Michigan boy signs with the Wings

July 1, 2017July 1, 2017 MiHockey Staff

Luke Witkowski with the puck; fellow Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser following behind. (Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey)

By @MichaelCaples –

Luke Witkowski said he couldn’t even be by his phone at the moment, because it’s blowing up.

That’s what happens with a Michigan boy who was in the Tampa Bay organization signs a contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

“Obviously I’m very thankful for everything that Tampa provided for me, and the opportunity that they gave me, but to come back to Michigan and play for the Red Wings is a dream come true,” Witkowski told MiHockey on a conference call. “My phone is going absolutely crazy right now. I’m not even on my phone right now because I don’t think I could be making a phone call.

“Personally, I’m very excited. It’s an opportunity, I have to earn my spot. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Holland native and Western Michigan alum entered the pro ranks in 2013, and the 6-foot-3 defenseman caught the eye of Ken Holland for multiple reasons.

“Luke has not only played defense, he’s also played some forward so we think that in Luke, we’re adding a player who gives us versatility, can play off the backend and can also go up and play right wing,” the Red Wings’ general manager said. “He played for Coach Blashill at Western Michigan for one year. He brings physicality and a physical presence to the line-up – something that we also wanted to add after trading away Steve Ott at the trade deadline.

“We think in Luke we’ve added somebody that gives us versatility and physicality. He’s played 54 NHL games, played a lot of his career in the American Hockey League, but he’s 27 years of age and he certainly has an opportunity to play with Tampa at the end of the year with all the injuries they had. We played them a couple times and certainly sitting in the press box, I noticed Luke bringing a physical element to the games against the Red Wings.”

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Besides all of his old friends being around, Witkowski is being reunited with a former teammate and a former coach in Detroit. He played for Jeff Blashill for a season in Kalamazoo, and he spent three seasons with Danny DeKeyser on the Broncos’ blue line. The two shared captaincy duties in 2012-13.

“Me and Danny were D partners for three years, roommates for a year and I think we really complemented each other really well. We kind of bring different elements to the game. As far as Blash, the same thing – I played under him for a year and I learned a lot from him and Pat Ferschweiler. I owe a lot to Fersch, actually, for developing my game in college and getting me ready for the pro game.

“I’m excited to getting back to playing with both of them.”

Witkowski was a sixth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008. He has split time between the Lightning and the Syracuse Crunch since turning pro in 2013. Last season, the defenseman played in 34 games with the Lightning, logging four points and 39 penalty minutes.

In 19 games with the Crunch, he recorded five assists and 59 penalty minutes.

Now in Detroit, Witkowski will get to be a part of the break-in process for the new Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

“Having a new arena is obviously exciting, with the history of the Red Wings being where they’ve been, it’s a place that I think a lot of players want to play. As far as the rink, playing in a new rink, sold out stadium every night, it’s going to be an exciting time.”

He’s one of two notable signings for the Wings on the first day of free agency, along with Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Trevor Daley. Holland said he likes the versatility that comes with Witkowski’s game – more than just his toughness.

“…we’re certainly looking for somebody that, I think in Luke, I think he brings the versatility of a lot of different things, that’s one of the things that Luke brings is physicality, he plays it tough, he plays hard, he knows how to play the game. It’s not only fighting, it’s just making the other team know that it could be a tough night, and when a team wants to play a certain way, you have the ability to respond. At the same time, Luke can play right defense, he gives us the versatility of playing right defense, we talked about injuries a minute ago…you need depth. Part of having depth is having players that can play more than one position.

“Luke can play, we think right wing on the fourth line, he can play right defense, he can play left defense, he’s partnered up with Dan DeKeyser so there’s a good familiarity there, so we think with the addition of these two players, we’ve addressed more than one need, we’ve addressed some different needs for our hockey team.”