Forward Jamie Tardif, who played all of this season and half of last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, signed a two-year contract with the Red Wings, today. Tardif was drafted in the fourth round by Calgary in 2003, but started his professional career in the East Coach Hockey League with Toledo after five seasons with Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League.
Tardif was sixth on the Griffins this season with 34 points and third in penalty minutes with 90.
The deal is standard entry-level stuff. Tardif is bound to be a Grand Rapids player over the next two seasons -- a depth player who flirts with NHL time.