Finally, the Red Wings have Justin Abdelkader and Carlo Colaiacovo under contract.
Abdelkader signed a four-year contract worth $7.2 million. A restricted free agent, Abdelkader didn’t file for arbitration early in the summer and his negotiations with the Wings dragged all summer.
As for Colaiacovo, he’s the unrestricted free agent defenseman the Wings have needed all off-season after not being able to get Ryan Suter, and watching Nicklas Lidstrom and Brad Stuart leave.
Colaiacovo isn’t the top pair defenseman the Wings needed but he should be able to be a steady and productive third-pair type of guy – as long as he’s healthy.
The knock on Colaiacovo, 29, has been he’s injury-prone.
So, the Wings are all set in terms of getting players under contract….with the lockout looming for Saturday night.
Detroit Red Wings
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