Just when it seemed as though the league was heading into the slow part of the year, the Detroit Red Wings decide to keep things busy with the announcement of a contract extension for right wing Gustav Nyquist.
The contract is for four years, and worth $19 million. It has an annual cap hit of $4.75 million.
Nyquist was a restricted free agent, but it was widely expected that a deal would be done in time to avoid arbitration between the two sides. This new deal will keep the 25-year old Swede in Detroit until, at least, the end of the 2018-19 season where he will then become an unrestricted free agent.
Nyquist had been an on-and-off again member of Red Wings roster since the 2011-12 season, but finally became a full-time member of the team last year. During his first full season in the NHL, Nyquist shined, putting up 27 goals and 27 assists for 54 points in 82 games.
In 179 career games with the Red Wings, Nyquist has 56 goals and 59 assists for 115 points. This comes after a successful college career at the University of Maine as well as AHL Grand Rapids.
With Nyquist under contract, the Red Wings now have a young piece of their new core under contract for a few more years. The next name likely due an extension will be Tomas Tatar, who will become a restricted free agent after the 2016-17 season. And with players like Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha in the system, Detroit looks like a team that will continue to be in the playoff picture for a number of years, on top of the current 24-year playoff streak it’s already on.
