Detroit re-signs Taro Hirose, Adam Erne

By @MichaelCaples –

A day before free agency officially begins, the Red Wings locked up two forwards – one who used to star for a school down the road.

Detroit announced new one-year deals for former Michigan State standout Taro Hirose and Adam Erne, who once played for Steve Yzerman in Tampa Bay, on Thursday.

Hirose, 24, signed with the Wings after his junior season with the Spartans in March of 2019, and has since appeared in 36 NHL games since turning pro.

He has recorded 14 points in that time frame – after making his debut during the 2018-19 season, he tied Dylan Larkin’s franchise record for longest point streak in his Red Wings debut by recording an assist in each of his first five games.

Hirose split his rookie season between Detroit and Grand Rapids; he posted seven points in 26 NHL games and 27 points in 35 AHL contests.

The Calgary, Alberta native was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2018-19 after leading the country with 50 points.

Erne, 25, played in 56 games with the Wings last season before a lower-body injury cut his season short. He registered five points, 28 penalty minutes and 142 hits.

Detroit acquired him from Tampa Bay on Aug. 14, 2019 in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Erne has played in 170 NHL games over his career, registering 32 points and 90 penalty minutes in the time frame. He was originally a second-round pick of the Bolts in 2013.