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Report: Diaz passes on Wings, will attend Flames camp instead

RaphaelDiaz2

Raphael Diaz will be wearing red in training camp -- just not the shade Detroit envisioned.

On Monday, reports out of Switzerland claimed Diaz will attend Calgary Flames camp on a PTO, turning down an earlier invite from the Red Wings in the process.

Diaz, 28, appeared in 63 games for the Canadiens, Canucks and Rangers last year, scoring two goals and 15 points. Known primarily as an offensive defenseman -- he had 14 points in 23 games with the Habs during the lockout-shortened ’13 campaign -- Diaz also represented Switzerland at the Winter Olympics in Sochi and played in four playoff games with the Blueshirts en route to last year’s Stanley Cup Final.

Diaz is also a right-handed shot, something the Red Wings had been looking to add all summer. It’s possible the Swiss rearguard liked his chances of sticking in the NHL with Calgary more than Detroit, which makes sense -- the Flames’ projected top six isn’t overly deep with Mark Giordano, Dennis Wideman, T.J. Brodie, Kris Russell, Ladislav Smid and Deryk Engelland; as such, the likes of veterans Sheldon Brookbank (also on a PTO) and Corey Potter (signed to a two-way deal) came aboard in the hope of landing jobs.