Red Wings sign defenseman Brogan Rafferty to two-year contract

DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman Brogan Rafferty to a two-year, two-way contract.

Rafferty, 28, spent the entire 2022-23 season with the American Hockey League's Coachella Valley Firebirds and led the team's defensemen in goals (9), assists (42), points (51), plus/minus (+28), power play goals (2) and shots (154) in 72 games. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound blueliner also helped the Firebirds reach the Calder Cup Finals in their inaugural campaign, tallying 11 points (2-9-11) and four penalty minutes in 26 postseason contests. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vancouver Canucks on April 1, 2019, Rafferty skated in two NHL games with the club during the 2018-19 season and tallied an assist in his only appearance in 2020-21. Rafferty has also notched 120 points (20-100-120), a plus-44 rating and 90 penalty minutes in 194 AHL games with the Utica Comets, San Diego Gulls and Firebirds. He played in the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic and earned a place on the league's All-Rookie team after leading all newcomers with 38 assists.

Prior to turning professional, Rafferty played three seasons at Quinnipiac University from 2016-19, recording 65 points (10-55-65) and 100 penalty minutes in 116 games. The West Dundee, Ill., native spent the 2015-16 season with the Bloomington Thunder in the United States Hockey League, logging 28 points (2-26-28) and 30 penalty minutes in 60 regular-season games, in addition to nine points (3-6-9) and four penalty minutes in 10 postseason matchups. Rafferty also totaled 56 points (8-48-56) and 105 penalty minutes in 110 North American Hockey League games with the Topeka Roadrunners and Coulee Region Chill from 2012-15.

Brogan Rafferty, Defense

Born May 28, 1995 -- West Dundee, IL

Height 6.01 -- Weight 203 -- Shoots R