Red Wings sign defenseman Steven Kampfer to one-year contract

The Detroit Red Wings have signed Michigan-born defenseman Steven Kampfer to a one-year contract, the club announced Sunday afternoon.

Kampfer, 33, is a right-handed defender who enjoyed a long professional career in North America before signing with Kazan Ak-Bars of the Kontinental Hockey League for the 2021–22 season.

The Ann Arbor product represented the United States in the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. He scored four points (one goal, three assists) in four games as Team USA lost to Slovakia in the quarterfinals.

Kampfer has played the majority of his professional career with the Boston Bruins, playing 38 games for their Stanley Cup-winning 2011 team and later rejoining the Bruins in time for their run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.

Prior to turning pro with the Bruins in 2010, Kampfer spent four seasons playing at the University of Michigan. The 5’10”, 198-lb. defender scored 60 points (seven goals, 53 assists) in 147 games with the Wolverines.

In 231 career regular-season games with the Bruins, Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, and New York Rangers, Kampfer has scored 15 goals and 39 points. He added one goal in three games during the Bruins’ 2019 playoff run.

Kampfer scored 11 goals and 30 points in 46 games with Kazan Ak-Bars in 2021–22, chipping in two goals and four points during the 2022 KHL playoffs.

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