The Detroit Red Wings, NHL affiliate of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, on Thursday announced the signings of center Matt Hussey and defenseman Dan Smith.
Hussey, 27, enjoyed a breakout season with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2005-06, posting career highs with 21 goals and a team-leading 30 assists and 51 points. He also paced the Penguins with seven game-winning goals, helping them earn the East Division championship and the third-best record in the AHL at 51-18-5-6 (113 points).
Hussey’s hot start – he totaled 19 points (9-10—19) in his first 17 games before being recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins – propelled Wilkes-Barre to an incredible 20-0-2-1 record out of the gate.
A 1998 draft choice by Pittsburgh, Hussey appeared in 13 contests with the parent Pens last season, contributing an assist. He scored a goal during his NHL debut on Mar. 16, 2004, vs. Washington and has totaled four points (2g, 2a) in 16 career games with Pittsburgh.
He has totaled 51 goals and 56 assists for 107 points in 269 career AHL contests, all with Wilkes-Barre.
Smith, 29, has logged 495 AHL games during a career that dates to the end of 1996-97, when he joined the Hershey Bears out of junior and promptly won a Calder Cup championship. Smith recorded 16 assists in 69 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2005-06 and also appeared in seven matches for the NHL’s Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers.
Smith has compiled 25 goals and 86 assists for 111 points over parts of nine AHL seasons with Hershey, Springfield, Toronto/Edmonton and Hamilton.
Smith was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 1995 and has gone on to skate in 22 career NHL matches with the Avalanche and the Oilers.
