Tootoo among Wings' moves
7/2/2012DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings made a lot of ripples while hoping to make a big splash by signing Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.
Detroit agreed to a three-year contract with gritty forward Jordin Tootoo after reaching two-year deals with backup goaltender Jonas Gustavsson and veteran forward Mikael Samuelsson on the first day of NHL free agency.
The Nashville Predators drafted Tootoo in 2001 and the tough guy has spent his entire career with them, racking up 725 career penalty minutes and 125 points.
Gustavsson played for Toronto last season and won a team-high 17 games with a team-low 2.92 goals-against average. He was 39-45 with a 2.98 GAA over three seasons with the Maple Leafs. The 27-year-old Swede will be Jimmy Howard's backup in Detroit. Ty Conklin and Joey MacDonald split time as No. 2 goalies for the Red Wings last season.
Samuelsson helped Detroit win the Stanley Cup in 2008 in his third of four seasons with the franchise. The 35-year-old Swede was limited because of injuries to 54 games and 31 points last season with Vancouver and Florida.
Detroit also signed 26-year-old forward Damien Brunner of Switzerland to a one-year, two-way contract that allows the franchise to send him to the AHL's Grand Griffins if he doesn't earn a spot on the Red Wings' roster.