According to beat reporter Ansar Khan, the Detroit Red Wings and forward Justin Abdelkader are closing in on a contract extension.
The deal is expected to be finalized within the next few weeks. It appears as though the contract will be worth more than $4 million annually and it will be longer than four years.
The 28-year-old is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. His current contract comes with a $1.8 million cap hit (he’s actually making $2.25 million in 2015-16).
Abdelkader set new career-highs by scoring 23 goals and 44 points last season.
After picking up five points in his first two contests in 2015-16, Abdelkader has struggled to produce offense. He ended a nine-game pointless streak by picking up an assist in Tuesday’s win over Tampa Bay, but that won’t diminish his value to the Wings.