No arbitration needed for DeKeyser

DETROIT – With two days to spare, the Red Wings and defenseman Danny DeKeyser avoided salary arbitration Tuesday when they agreed to a new contract worth $30 million.

The six-year deal means DeKeyser will be under contract with his hometown team through the 2021-22 season.

An arbitration hearing was scheduled for the 26-year-old Detroit native and the team this Thursday in Toronto.

For DeKeyser, who graduated from De La Salle Collegiate High School in suburban Warren and attended Western Michigan University, the new contract represents security for him and his fiancée Melissa Beurmann, who plan to get married this September.

“It’s nice to get this done and just to know that I’ll be around for awhile,” DeKesyer said. “For me and my fiancée – she’s also from Michigan – it’s just a good spot for us to be in with family all around the state and that kind of thing. It’s a big event coming up for us, so it’s really cool how this has worked out before the wedding, to get that done and be comfortable and not have to worry about it.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else and I was pretty happy that we were able to work with Kenny (Holland) and get a deal done. So I’m just excited about it.”

As the hearing drew near, DeKeyser said he felt a deal could get struck prior to both sides having to travel to Toronto.

“It was kind of up in the air for a little bit,” said DeKeyser, who filed for arbitration on July 5. “I would say the last week or so is when …

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