Abdelkader Signs Entry-Level Contract with Detroit Red Wings

Bruce MacLeod report s that the Wings have signed 21-year-old Justin Abdelkader to a three-year entry-level contract. No financial details have been release yet, of course, but there is a limited range for these types of contracts. As a "Group 1 Player" drafted in 2005, though, Abdelkader can receive no more than $850,000 a year and no less than $62,500 under the current CBA (PDF). It's a good bet Abdelkader is in the upper half of that range. He'll be staying with the team throughout the playoffs. No surprise here. Abdelkader had until tomorrow to sign in order to be eligible to play in the post-season and you know he wasn't going to miss the chance to suit up for the Wings before next year. He is a homegrown Michigan boy, after all. Ansar Khan quotes Ken Holland as saying, "Now it's up to Mike (coach Babcock) to decide if he wants to use him." You can bet " Abs " will make a good case for himself. [link]