12-Year, $73 Million Contract Keeps Zetterberg In D-Town

After leaving last night’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first period with back spasms I imagine Henrik Zetterberg did something like this. He slowly got up, did a couple jumping-jacks, walked over to a mirror and repeated the following words over and over again to himself: Seventy-two million.

That’s how much he’ll be getting paid (give or take a few dollars) over the next 12 seasons according to reports coming out of Detroit. The Wings have a press conference scheduled for 2:00 p.m. today from Joe Louis Arena, at which time the contract signing will be officially announced.

The Wings lowered Zetterberg’s salary-cap dollars to $6 million (up from $2.65 million in his current contract) by adding an additional 2 years at $1 million each season to the 10-year deal they were originally negotiating on with Zetterberg’s agent, Marc Levine. This is the longest and, in terms of total value, highest paying contract signing in Detroit Red Wings history.

And speaking of history, what about Zetterberg’s constant back problems? Hank doesn’t think they’ll be an issue.

“I don’t think it’s anything to do with what happened years before,” said Zetterberg after Detroit lost to Columbus. “It just got tweaked kind of funny. I feel pretty good right now, so we’ll see (today) how it feels, if we’re going to take some time or not.”

He went on to say that he doesn’t foresee any tests being conducted to determine if anything is seriously wrong and that this is the first time this season that he has experienced any problems. Incidentally this was Zetterberg’s 400th NHL game. The play that sent him to the dressing room went down late in the first period as he battled for the puck with Wing killer (and natural hat trickster) Rick Nash.

“I went to the corner, they came from behind, kind of pushed me in,” Zetterberg said. “Went back to the bench, felt kind of stiff and it kind of stiffened up on me (more). Just decided to be safe, take the rest of the night off.”

The Wings front office won’t go so far as to call this a lifetime contract, but barring something unforeseen (like a career-ending back injury) this signing will keep Zetterberg in Detroit for the rest of his playing days.

Let’s all hope it’s in an on-ice capacity.

UPDATE: Well, it’s official: Henrik Zetterberg will be wearing the Winged Wheel for the rest of his (hockey) life. In a press conference from Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday afternoon the Detroit Red Wings announced the signing of Zetterberg to a staggering 12-year, $73 million contract extension to the tune of $6.08 million per season. Said Wings GM Ken Holland after crossing his fingers and toes:

“Henrik wanted to be a Red Wing for life and we wanted to keep him a Red Wing for life. We worked hard to find a number that made both sides very happy.”

Zetterberg will make $7.4 million next season, which is just short of El Capitan Nicklas Lidstrom’s $7.45 million, something Zetterberg insisted on due to his reported respect for Lidstrom.

“I’m real happy I don’t have to do it again,” Zetterberg said. “I’m going to be here for the rest of my career and I’m looking forward to spending 12 more years here.”

But here’s the rub: Those twelve more years Zetterberg spoke of will be less at least one game; he won’t be in the lineup against Dallas on Thursday after leaving Tuesday’s game against Columbus with back spasms. He also didn’t practice Wednesday but hopes to be back come Saturday in Washington.

And if you don’t already know the woman standing between Zetterberg and Boris Karloff as Imhotep The Mummy. . .I mean Mike Ilitch is Zetterberg’s better half Emma Andersson. She looks smart.

Posted by Paul Benvin on Jan 28 2009. Filed under Central, Detroit Red Wings, Top Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.