The Detroit Red Wings jumped at the chance Tuesday to add an experienced NHL defenceman in LaSalle's Andy Delmore.

The 32-year-old Delmore, who spent the past two seasons playing in Germany, agreed to a one-year, two-way deal with the Red Wings.

"We kind of worked it out in a day," Delmore said. "I wasn't sure all summer what I wanted to do."

Delmore had an offer to return to Europe, but decided to have his agent give the Red Wings a call.

"We just became aware he wanted to play in North America," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said.

"We have a relationship with (Delmore's agent) Tom Laidlaw (who also represented former Red Wings Dallas Drake and Greg Johnson).

"Tom informed us Andy was interested in remaining in North America."

Already deep on defence, Delmore knows he'll likely spend most of the season with Detroit's American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids.

"I was always a fan of Detroit and I know they're a great organization," the six-foot-one, 200-pound Delmore said.

"I'll go to Grand Rapids and be part of a first-class organization and whatever happens is going to happen.

"I don't think I'll make the team out of training camp, but if something happens and they need me, I'm not far."

Grand Rapids will make family life a lot easier for Delmore, who spent the past two seasons in Hamburg, Germany.

"I probably could have (stayed in North America the last two seasons), but I wanted to give Europe a chance," Delmore said.

"Now, I'm 21/2 hours from home in Grand Rapids."

That doesn't mean Delmore has no chance of seeing time in the NHL this season.

"We found out in the playoffs you need lots of depth," Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said.

"I think Andy's got a few more years left in him.

"He's a point producer that moves the puck and plays our type of hockey," Nill said.

This is Delmore's second tour with the Red Wings.

He signed with the club in 2005, but was claimed off waivers by Columbus.

That was one of four NHL stops over parts of seven seasons for Delmore, who also spent time with Philadelphia, Nashville and Columbus.

In 283 NHL games, Delmore has 43 goals and 101 points and has also played in 335 career AHL games.

"This gives us good depth," Holland said. "He's got NHL experience and he can fill in for us."

Delmore led all NHL defencemen with 14 power-play goals in 2002-03 and was the Eddie Shore Award winner in 2005-06 as the AHL's best defenceman.

"You're only allowed five veterans in the American Hockey League and he'll be one of our guys," Holland said.

"It's hard to find defencemen with that quality of offence. He runs the power play and gets points."