Red Wings, Stars Make Signings

Mar 30, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka (2) skates off the ice after the loss to the Calgary Flames at the American Airlines Center. The Flames defeated the Stars 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Stars and the Detroit Red Wings both made signings for their respective teams on Monday. The Wings announced the official signing of Axel Holmstrom to an entry-level contract. The Stars announced the extension to top defensive prospect Jyrki Jokipakka.

For the Red Wings, it is the same story. The team announced the late round pick from Sweden has signed a 3-year entry-level contract. Holmstrom was drafted in the 7th round of the 2014 NHL Draft and is proving to be another rare find for Detroit.

Holmstrom was part of a successful Skelleftea team that made it to the SHL finals. Holmstrom, himself, was also very successful. He scored 20 points in 44 games and was Sweden’s Junior Player of the Year.

Holmstrom will be joining the Grand Rapids Griffins next year and will take one step further in the Red Wings’ long development process.

The Dallas Stars signed Jyrki Jokipakka to a 2-year, one-way extension. Jokipakka will be making $900,000 each year according to Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.

Jokipakka started last season with the Dallas Stars’ AHL club, the Texas Stars. He also made his NHL debut, spending 51 games with the Stars where he scored 10 points on 10 assists.

Re-signing Jokipakka might not have been a must for the Stars this offseason, but it still should’ve been a strong priority. The Finnish native is big, but strong offensively. Jokipakka has the potential to be a good quarterback defenseman for the Stars.