The Detroit Red Wings signed veteran defenseman Ben Chiarot, according to Elliotte Friedman. The deal will reportedly be worth $4.75 million annually.
Chiarot was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets in 2013-14 and developed into a solid bottom-pairing defenseman over the next few years.
In 2019, Chiarot inked a three-year, $10.5 million contract as a free agent with the Montreal Canadiens. Chiarot’s usage increased in Montreal, as he led the team in average time on ice per game (25:15) during the Habs’ shocking run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.
Montreal traded Chiarot ahead of the trade deadline in March to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a first-round draft pick in 2023 and prospect Ty Smilanic. Chiarot helped the Panthers beat the Washington Capitals in the first round for their first playoff series win since 1996. They were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning after that.
Adding Chiarot will give the Red Wings a big, physical defensive defenseman who can log heavy minutes on their blue line. They had Nick Leddy in the veteran minute-muncher role last season but traded him to the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline.
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