Red Wings sign Theo Rochette to entry-level contract

An exceptional European scorer has inked his first NHL contract.

On Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings announced that the team has signed forward Theo Rochette to a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2026-27 season.

Rochette is an undrafted center who has made himself a promising prospect in his native Switzerland over the past few seasons. With Lausanne HC, he has posted 30 points in each of the past three seasons, including this past year, when he set career highs in goals (22), assists (21) and points (43), and was named to the National League’s Media All-Star Team.

On top of that, the 24-year-old put together an exceptional performance at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship. In 10 games, he scored three goals and six points, helping the Swiss reach the gold-medal game, ultimately losing to Finland in the final on home ice.

In 131 regular-season games with Lausanne, Rochette has posted 50 goals and 54 assists for 104 points, with another 33 points in 45 postseason contests. He’s also played for Lausanne in the past two Champions Hockey League seasons, notching four points in 14 games.

Rochette was a touted scorer in junior hockey. With the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, the Neuchâtel, Switzerland, native was among the most productive players for a couple of seasons. After bursting to a 99-point performance during the 2021-22 campaign, he scored a career-high 42 goals and 106 points in 65 games. He went on to add another 21 points in 18 playoff games, helping the Remparts win the league championship. Rochette went on to post three goals and six points over four games at the Memorial Cup, helping Quebec win it all and earning a spot on the tournament all-star team.