Red Wings sign Niklas Kronwall to 7 year contract extension

Bob McKenzie via twitter: The Detroit Red Wings have signed Niklas Kronwall to a 7 year contract extension with a salary cap hit of $4.75 million.

Darren Dreger via twitter: Salary breakdown: “1) SB $1.25 + $3.25 mil. Years 2-4..$6 mil. Year 5) $5.5. Year 6) $3.5. Year 7) $1.75. Full NTC for 1st 5 yrs.” He has a limited no-trade clause in the final 2 years, Kronwall selects 10 teams he won’t go to.

It’s a decent number for Kronwall, and a smart idea for the Red Wings to lock him up before he became a UFA at the end of the season. With the retirement of Brian Rafalski last year, and the yearly possibility of Nicklas Lidstrom retiring, it was imperative for the Wings to not lose Kronwall as well.