Red Wings sign Sheldon Dries to two-year contract extension

A talented minor-league veteran is staying in his home state for a little bit longer.

On Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings announced that the team has signed forward Sheldon Dries to a two-year, two-way contract extension.

According to PuckPedia, Dries’ new deal, which kicks in next season, has an NHL AAV of $875,000, with a minor-league salary of $375,000. $400,000 is guaranteed to the Macomb, Mich. native for each season. Dries is on the final season of his two-year, two-year contract that he signed in July 2024. That deal has an NHL cap hit of $775,000 and a minors salary of $475,000.

Dries has been bouncing around the pro ranks after an exceptional four-year career at Western Michigan University. Along with being part of the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks’ organizations, Dries has been an efficient scorer for the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

After posting 40 points in 65 games last season with Grand Rapids, the 31-year-old has been a key part of the Griffins’ historic start in 2025-26. In 34 games, he has scored 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points. While he isn’t scoring at the pace he was as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks, where he scored 62 and 52 points during the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, respectively, Dries has been a solid presence for a GR team that has a healthy mix of veterans and prospects.

Dries has been called up to Detroit a couple of times this season, but has yet to scratch his name into the lineup. In 122 NHL games, he has notched 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points.

In 373 regular-season appearances in the AHL, he has scored 153 goals and 120 assists for 273 points, with another 17 points in 37 Calder Cup Playoff games.