Kevin Porter Signs With Detroit Red Wings

After an up and down season with the Buffalo Sabres, forward Kevin Porter has decided to take his talents else where on the first day of free agency. The career AHLer signed a two-way deal with the Detroit Red Wings and will now join their organization.

Porter spent last season in Buffalo splitting time between the Buffalo Sabres and the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He got a lot of playing time from interim coaches Ron Rolston and Ted Nolan, due to his versatility and effort. He fit a solid role on their 3rd line and was a successful role player for the Sabres last season.

Kevin Porter is 28 and had a decent year in Buffalo last season. He recorded one assist in 12 games for the Sabres and 36 points in 50 games with the Americans. When he was sent down to Rochester in February he racked up the points and led the Amerks in scoring. In six NHL seasons with Buffalo, Colorado and Phoenix, Porter has 29 goals, 26 assists and 60 penalty minutes in 206 games.

While Porter isn’t the biggest forward you will find at 5-foot-11, 194 pounds, he is a former Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner from 2007-08 for being the top collegiate player. He’s not going to be a forward you plug onto the top line and he likely won’t start the year in Detroit, but he’s the perfect role player and leader for your AHL team. The Red Wings who like to rely on their young guys when the injuries come will really enjoy having a guy like Porter in their organization. When you need him he’s available.

It might not have been the biggest deal on day one, but the Red Wings added a solid veteran and character guy in Kevin Porter.