The Detroit Red Wings made some waves on Wednesday morning, but not for the best of reasons. The Wings missed out on two big names on the blueline trade market, Rasmus Andersson and Quinn Hughes. Without captain Amid a lack of other viable alternatives, the Wings pivoted and made a questionable move by extending a veteran blueliner.
Chiarot Signs Three-Year Extension with Red Wings
The Red Wings extended veteran blueliner Ben Chiarot. Chiarot signs a three-year, $11.5 million contract on Wednesday, PuckPedia reported. The 34-year-old was on track to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this summer.
That situation won’t be the case now as the Red Wings have locked up Chiarot for the foreseeable future. While the contract is a step down from his previous four-year deal, it remains a questionable move at best.
The fact that Chiarot signs an extension doesn’t hide the fact that the Red Wings pivoted after missing out on Andersson and Hughes. Without any other solid pieces available on the trade market, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman chose to stay with a known commodity.
Chiarot has notched four goals and 11 points in 54 games this season. While he’s hardly an offensive defenceman, his underlying numbers should raise some eyebrows.
The veteran blueliner comes with a 0% Wins Above Replacement (WAR), while essentially making his defence partners worse off with him than without him. That’s not ideal for a rearguard in the bottom percentile of offensive and defensive rankings.
Ben Chiarot, extended 3x$3.9M by DET, is a physical veteran defenceman. Despite having good size, decent mobility, and some puck-carrying ability, his team tends to get completely wrecked when he’s on the ice and his partners tend to fare much worse next to him. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/npltmqttg3
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 28, 2026
In short, the news that Chairot signs with the Red Wings is a questionable move but a necessary one.
Red Wings Wary of Massive Trades this Season
The Andersson and Hughes negotiations were examples of the Red Wings not wanting to make a big splash on the trade market. While another veteran defenceman like Justin Faulk remains on the market, the Red Wings felt it was better if Chiarot signs an extension.
From a hockey perspective, the deal should shake more than a few heads. From a business perspective, the deal makes sense. The Red Wings avoid overpaying for a blueliner like Faulk, while saving some dry powder for another major trade.
The thought process likely took the Red Wings through their current season. The club doesn’t really have any major holes. So, why take a shot on a costly trade acquisition?
While extending Chiarot might not age well, his mentorship role for rising star Axel Sandin-Pellikka may be just about the only reason why Chiarot signs.
Main Photo: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images