Forward oddly makes decision to swap team's from the Red Wings to Sabres

The Detroit Red Wings and forward Red Savage were thought to be signing an ELC. However, for both the prospect and the team, that time has come and gone, despite GM Steve Yzerman's overtures.

It seems as if both the Red Wings and Savage's camp were unable to come to terms to sign a contract on August 15th, but the 5 P.M. deadline unfortunately.

Now, as a free agent, he's made the questionable decision to join another Atlantic Division team, the Buffalo Sabres.

He's signed a two-year AHL deal with the Buffalo Sabres' minor-league affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

Red Savage will have to work his way up the depth chart in the AHL in order to get any ice time with the Sabres in the future. This could be considered an unwelcome prospect to Savage, who was a former Captain for the Michigan State Spartans.

Savage was a 114th overall pick in 2021 by the Red Wings and played his last two seasons in college with the Spartans.

He'd score 38 points (15-23) in 58 games with the Spartans and served as their captain.

In 2024-25, he'd play only 20 games and scored 11 points (5-6) before suffering a season-ending injury. Savage's recent accomplishments were playing in two World Junior Championships with USA Hockey. He was also nominated as Miami (OH)'s rookie of the year his freshman season there.

Savage's father was Brian, who was an NHL forward, and his grandfather is former Red Wings defenseman Larry Hillman, who won a cup with the Red Wings in 1954-55.

Given his lineage, it's doubtful we've seen the last of him.