The Red Wings are betting on Ben Chiarot to shore up their defense for years to come, but is this a wise investment? For the past four seasons, only Moritz Seider has spent more time on the ice for the Detroit Red Wings than Ben Chiarot. Now, it appears he'll be doing so for quite a bit longer!
The team officially announced on Wednesday morning that they've inked Chiarot to a three-year contract extension. This deal comes with an average annual value of $3.85 million and will keep the 34-year-old defenseman in Detroit all the way through the 2028-29 season. That's a significant commitment!
Chiarot, a physically imposing 6-foot-3 left-handed defenseman, has quickly become a veteran leader for the Red Wings since joining them as a free agent back in 2022. He's been a consistent presence in their top four defense pairings, averaging a solid 20 minutes and 39 seconds of ice time per game. Over his 288 games with Detroit, he's contributed 63 points, all while being a crucial part of their penalty kill and setting a physical tone on the backend.
Before arriving in Detroit, Chiarot had stints with the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, and Florida Panthers. His previous contract was set to expire in 2026, meaning the Red Wings would have faced a significant gap to fill on their blue line this summer. However, at 34, the team will undoubtedly need to keep a close eye on how Chiarot's game ages. It's also likely they'll still need to find another defenseman for their top four in the not-too-distant future.
This extension comes at an interesting time, as the Red Wings are currently holding onto a playoff spot, desperately trying to end a nine-year postseason drought.
Let's talk about the three-year term – is it a gamble?
Granting a three-year deal to a player of Chiarot's age always carries some inherent risk. He'll be turning 35 in May, and while he's demonstrated impressive mobility, physicality, and durability thus far – having missed only 12 games in his three-and-a-half seasons with Detroit – the real question is how his game will hold up as he enters his late thirties. But here's where it gets controversial... Many believe that while Chiarot has been a valuable presence, his underlying performance metrics have been somewhat shaky. Will moving down to a third-pair role later in this contract be enough to offset any potential age-related decline?
It's highly probable that Chiarot will eventually transition to a more of a third-pair defenseman role as this extension progresses. While the $3.85 million cap hit isn't unmanageable, especially with the salary cap expected to rise, it's also not exactly a bargain for that kind of role.
And this is the part most people miss: The biggest unknown is what Chiarot will look like in the final years of this new deal. Despite his significant role in Detroit, he's been a player who sparks debate among fans, largely due to those sometimes inconsistent underlying metrics. The hope is that a reduced role later on will boost those numbers, but the team will be crossing their fingers that it's enough to counteract any natural decline that comes with age.
What does this signing mean for Detroit's defensive outlook in 2026 and beyond?
In the immediate future, this deal means the Red Wings have one less pressing need to address in the free-agent market this summer. With the salary cap on the rise, more players are opting to extend with their current teams rather than test free agency, and this move by Detroit fits that trend, securing another piece of their defensive core for the upcoming season.
The Red Wings still have a crucial decision to make regarding Simon Edvinsson, their top-pair left-handed defenseman, who is a restricted free agent and will need an extension this summer. On the right side, they have their franchise defenseman, Moritz Seider, locked up through 2031. Young left-handed defenseman Albert Johansson is signed through next season (after which he'll be an RFA), and rookie right-handed defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka is in the first year of his entry-level contract.
This leaves at least one more spot to fill in the nightly lineup on the right side for next season. However, Johansson is versatile enough to play his off-hand and could potentially shift to the right if needed. If Johansson, who is 25, can develop into a legitimate top-four defenseman on the left, it would provide the Red Wings with a clear plan for the future. But if he can't, Detroit will likely need to actively search for a top-four defenseman in the near future, especially as Chiarot's role potentially diminishes.
This signing also has a ripple effect on Detroit's left-shot defensive prospects. Both William Wallinder and Shai Buium are nearing NHL readiness, but with Edvinsson, Johansson, and now Chiarot ahead of them on the depth chart, their path to the NHL on the left side appears more crowded. This is certainly an interesting development as the trade deadline looms.
So, what are your thoughts on the Ben Chiarot extension? Do you think it's a smart move for the Red Wings, or a risky gamble? Let us know in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take!
