Less than a week after he was passed over by the Detroit Red Wings, forward Red Savage has found himself a pro hockey home. He’s joining the AHL Rochester Americans on a two-year contract.
The Americans are the top farm club of Detroit’s Atlantic Division rivals, the Buffalo Sabres.
Savage completed his NCAA eligibility with the Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten during the 2024-25 season. As a draft pick of the Red Wings, under the rules of the NHL CBA, Detroit had until August 15 to sign Savage.
The @AmerksHockey have signed forward Red Savage to a two-year @TheAHL contract. pic.twitter.com/vYyP7lyad7
— Amerks PR (@AmerksPR) August 21, 2025
Earlier in the summer, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman allowed that the club was still talking to Savage about signing a contract.
When Detroit and Savage were unable to come to terms on a pact by the 5 pm ET deadline on August 15, he became an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team.
Red Wings Selected Savage in 2021 NHL Entry Draft
Savage was chosen by Detroit during the 2021 NHL entry draft. He was the 114th overall selection of that draft.
The 22-year-old center played the past two seasons for the Spartans. Savage helped Michigan State earn the Big Ten Championship in each of his two seasons. In his final season at East Lansing, he served as team captain, recording 5-6-11 totals in 20 games before suffering a season-ending injury in January.
Congrats to former Spartan captain Red Savage on inking a deal with the Rochester Americans in the AHL! https://t.co/jGhDM5SlCc
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) August 21, 2025
Before Michigan State, Savage spent two seasons with the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks. He was Miami’s rookie of the year in his freshman season. He also played in two World Junior Championships with USA Hockey.
He’s the son of former NHL forward Brian Savage. Savage is also the great-nephew of former Red Wings and Rochester defenseman Larry Hillman. Hillman won a Stanley Cup on the Detroit defense in 1954-55. At the age of 18 years, two months, and nine days of age when he won that Cup, Hillman remains the youngest player to win the Stanley Cup in NHL history.