"Blash may have mentioned that to me at world (championships) one year, it's a nice compliment to get from him," van Riemsdyk said. "Your odds are very good around the net if you want to score goals and be productive. That's a big part of my game. Just the nuance, timing and things like that. I just want to be anchored around the net."

The Red Wings signed the No. 1 pick of the 2007 draft, forward Patrick Kane, to a one-year, $3 million contract Monday. Kane and van Riemsdyk were teammates for the bronze-medal winning United States at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship, and at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, World Cup of Hockey 2016 and 2019 IIHF World Championship.

James van Riemsdyk is signing a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. The deal is for $1 million against the salary cap but includes several bonus incentives that could earn him an additional $750,000, a source said. Van Riemsdyk spent last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.