Report: Red Wings, Justin Abdelkader Closing in on Extension

The Detroit Red Wings have a lot veterans coming up on the end of their contracts, but there may soon be one less to deal with over the summer.

The Red Wings and forward Justin Abdelkader are closing in on a contract extension, according to M Live’s Ansar Khan. The two parties have made “significant progress” toward a long-term contract that may be completed in the “next couple weeks.”

Khan additionally reports that the deal is expected to be in excess of a $4 million AAV over the course of more than four years.

That’s a nice pay raise for Abdelkader, who is coming off a four-year deal with an AAV of $1.8.

Through 12 games this season he has put up four goals and two assists, with five of those points coming in the first two games of the season. Last season he posted 23 goals and 21 assists through 71 games.

The team also has to look ahead to expiring contracts from Darren Helm, Drew Miller, Joacim Andersson, Brad Richards and Kyle Quincey.

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