Dear Red Wings: Petruzzelli signs AHL contract with Toronto Marlies

The Keith Petruzzelli saga took a surprise turn on Sunday.

Petruzzelli signs with Marlies

Petruzzelli, now 22, is a 6-foot-5 goalie out of Quinnipiac University. He was without a NHL contract, leaving us all to speculate (for years, hence the word “saga”) about what his next step would be. Signing a two-year contract with an AHL club was not one of the outcomes anyone really suspected. The Toronto Marlies announced Sunday they were bringing him in on the two-year deal.

He was drafted by the Red Wings in the 3rd round (88th overall) back in 2017. He spent the past four seasons with Quinnipiac, most notably this past season when he was named an ECAC first-team all-star, the ECAC goalie of the year, a finalist for the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s best goaltender, and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s most outstanding player. He posted a .926 save percentage and 1.89 GAA while leading Quinnipiac to a conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance. This was sure to get him the NHL contract he wanted, right?

Wrong. He parted ways with the Detroit Red Wings, who held rights to him since he was drafted. That’s fine, especially after we saw what the Red Wings did by adding Alex Nedeljkovic and drafting Sebastian Cossa. Personally, after realizing Steve Yzerman was not about to sign this guy (for whatever reason), I fully expected Petruzzelli would sign with another NHL team or return for a 5th season with Quinnipiac. Wrong again.

If he’s not getting a NHL contract right now (again, no clue why he’s not), then I don’t really understand why someone like him would choose to go to an AHL club, specifically in the goalie hellscape that is the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, and not go to Europe. He must really think he’s going to own the AHL and get even more recognition before signing an even better NHL contract. I don’t know where that would be. Toronto has a healthy list of goalies trying to play for a job with the Marlies. I mean, I don’t think he’s putting himself in an ideal situation unless he’s promised the starting job with the Marlies and a shot with the Leafs. Good luck.

Previously:

• Filppula goes to Switzerland, Veleno works out
• Nielsen buyout, Svechnikov’s new AHL contract, Verbeek’s second job
• Adam Erne, one of ‘Yzerman’s guys,’ is heart-and-soul player for Detroit
• Vrana and the burgeoning, albeit short-term, offense; awaiting Hronek deal
• Suter joins core; Detroit remains way under cap
• View: Detroit Red Wings 2021 NHL Entry Draft picks
• Kraken grab Cholowski
• Welcome, Nick Leddy
• Ken Holland strikes, Kucherov calls Larionov, and a quiz
• Tanguay joins coaching staff; Chelios to ESPN
• Gallant goes to Rangers; coaches quiz time
• Recalling the magical 2012-13 playoff run with two epic game 7s
• May 31, 2002 -- Red Wings score 7 goals vs. Avalanche in Game 7
• Chris Osgood -- Hall of Famer?
• Jack Eichel -- could Yzerman add him?
• Veleno, Rasmussen showing promise down the middle
• Trading Anthony Mantha was more than Red Wings fans could ask for at deadline

Free agency moves recap:

• Aug. 15: Adam Erne signs 2-year contract with Red Wings
• Aug. 10: Jakub Vrana signs three-year contract with Red Wings
• Aug. 5: Center Chase Pearson stays with Red Wings
• July 31: Red Wings sign Tyler Bertuzzi to two-year contract extension
• July 30: Red Wings acquire Mitchell Stephens in trade with Tampa for 6th-round pick
• July 29: Red Wings bring back Luke Witkowski on two-year deal
• July 29: Red Wings bring back defenseman Dan Renouf on one-year deal
• July 29: Darren Helm leaving Red Wings, signs with Avalanche
• July 28: Red Wings sign center Pius Suter to two-year contract
• July 28: Red Wings sign Michigan native D Jordan Oesterle to two-year contract
• July 28: Red Wings sign D Ryan Murphy to one-year contract extension
• July 28: Report: Luke Glendening leaving Red Wings, signing with Dallas Stars

Pre-free agency moves recap:

• July 28: Red Wings sign goalie Calvin Pickard to one-year contract extension
• July 28: Red Wings sign center Sam Gagner to one-year contract extension
• July 27: Red Wings sign left wing Taro Hirose to contract extension
• July 27: Red Wings sign center Kyle Criscuolo to contract extension
• July 26: Gustav Lindstrom signs two-year deal
• July 25: Marc Staal signs for another season
• July 22: Alex Nedeljkovic signs 2-year contract with Red Wings after trade