The Detroit Red Wings organization has made an addition to their AHL affiliate as the team announced a one-year, two-way contract with defenseman Tory Dello. It will mark the first time in Dello’s short career that he has signed with an NHL franchise.
After a lengthy stay with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, the Lakewood, IL native committed to the University of Notre Dame where he would spend the next four years. During his time in South Bend, Dello scored seven goals and 40 points in 154 games for the Fighting Irish and amassed 133 PIMs in the process. Dello signed an AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins once his playing days in Notre Dame ended.
Dello’s time in the AHL has been very similar to his time in the NCAA as he’s rarely seen on the scoresheet outside his time in the penalty box. Going into his sixth professional season, Dello has played 188 games split between the Griffins, Laval Rocket, and Chicago Wolves while collecting 12 goals, 38 points, and 112 PIMs overall.
With the Red Wings looking to graduate some defensive prospects to the NHL level this season, Dello may find a home on the Griffins as the team’s sixth or seventh defenseman. Grand Rapids recently qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season and will be looking to return in this upcoming season. Keeping this in mind, and factoring in the glut of prospects in Detroit’s system, Dello’s playing time may be considerably limited on the life of this contract.