Former Red Wings forward Adam Erne, a $2.1 million player for the past two seasons, agreed to attend the Edmonton Oilers training camp on a PTO.
The Red Wings didn’t re-sign him after four seasons with the team. General manager Steve Yzerman waived him last February, and he played nine games with the Grand Rapids Griffins before being recalled..
“They’re all tough (decisions),” Coach Derek Lalonde said when Erne was waive. “It’s just the reality. Thankfully we’re finally getting to that depth. It’s probably more a credit to (Jonatan) Berggren in that technically it’s probably that spot and Berggren just played his way into it.”
He had 18 points in 61 games for the Red Wings, plus five assists for the Griffins. Erne never had more than 11 goals or 20 points in a season for Detroit.
Erne earned his keep as one of the team’s most consistent hitters. Over four seasons in Detroit, he totaled 545 hits. Over the past two seasons, he posted 321 hits. His 161 last season ranked second on the Red Wings to Moritz Seider‘s 207.
Erne is the last player from last season’s Detroit roster to land either a contract or a tryout.
The Oilers are slightly over the cap ceiling ($390,000), meaning they would need to find cap space if they want to sign Erne. That could come from a long-term injury or moving out another player. Erne’s selling points to the Oilers are his penalty killing and physical play.
The Red Wings just seemed to outgrow Erne last season.
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