Booth signed to two-way deal

From the outset, David Booth knew the odds were against him but the dream to play in the NHL with the team he grew up cheering for was too good to pass up. Monday, Booth’s dream came true when the 32-year-old forward, who came to training camp with the Detroit Red Wings on pro tryout, signed a one-year deal with the team. It’s a two-way pact that will pay him $700,000 in the NHL and $250,000 in the minor leagues. “I can’t really express it, not only for me, but for my family,… Booth said of his emotional state. |Starting in April, or even in August, I probably would have said this is the hardest chance I’ve ever had to make it.… Booth’s combination of perseverance and work ethic paid off, and the elbow injury suffered by Tyler Bertuzzi also opened a door for him. Booth also has a history of putting the puck in the net, a quality few of Detroit’s bottom-six forwards can boast of. He scored 31 goals for the Florida Panthers in 2008-09 and topped the 20-goal plateau two other seasons. Granted that was some time ago but with 120 goals in 502 NHL games, Booth has averaged 19.6 goals per 82 games played. The Detroit-born Booth, who played his college hockey at Michigan State, always dreamed of pulling on the winged wheel one day. “Growing up a Red Wings fan, I’ve always been a Red Wings fan,… the Detroit-born Booth said. “I want them to do the best they can. “The organization has been great to me so far, the guys have been great. I want this team to win and I want to be a part of it, and I think that’s why I came to camp, because I want to help this team win.… Nothing is yet guaranteed to Booth. He was also placed on waivers Monday, so he could be immediately sent to AHL Grand Rapids if he clears at noon Tuesday and he’s well aware of the tenuous nature of his situation. “I think that just keeps me on edge every day, knowing that you have to give it your best or else it can be an option,… Booth said. “This is the situation. (Detroit GM Ken Holland) explained how all the moving parts play out. He said, ‘This is what we can do. You’re going to start up,’ and I said, ‘I’m not going to be able to turn that down.’ “As you know, things change with injuries, trades, call ups, I don’t know. If things change, that’s all right but it’s awesome to be here on the first day of practice.… Roster Moves The belief in NHL circles that Detroit goalie Jared Coreau might not clear waivers proved to be untrue. All five players Detroit placed on waivers Sunday - Coreau, defensemen Brian Lashoff and Dylan McIlrath and forwards Matt Lorito and Ben Street - cleared and were assigned to AHL Grand Rapids. Defenseman Libor Sulak, signed in the summer as a free agent, was assigned to the Lahti Pelicans of Finland’s SM-liiga. Forwards Evgeni Svechnikov (neck), Tyler Bertuzzi (elbow) and Eric Tangradi (knee) were placed on short-term injured reserve. It’s Still A Mess The entirety of Detroit’s roster moves leaves the Wings salaries at $78,755,805, well over the $75 million NHL cap. A significant portion of that will be reclaimed by maintaining forward Johan Franzen ($3,954,545) on long-term injured reserve, but eventually, the Wings still have to sign restricted free agent and contract holdout Andreas Athanasiou. Along with Booth ($700,000), the Wings also placed defenseman Ryan Sproul ($625,000) on waivers Monday but even if both cleared and were sent down when and if Athanasiou agrees to terms, it’s likely the team would still be about $400,000 over the cap, assuming the Wings sign Athanasiou to the $1.9 million per season offer reportedly on the table from the team. Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer