The Detroit Red Wings announced on Thursday that they have signed forward Justin Abdelkader to a seven-year contract extension.<br />The team did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston the deal carries an average annual salary cap hit of $4.25 million per season.<br />A veteran of 413 NHL games, all with the Red Wings, Abdelkader has become a key player for the team he grew up rooting for in Muskegon, Mich.<br />The 28-year-old winger has played primarily alongside Henrik Zetterberg and rookie Dylan Larkin this season.<br />He has seven points over 15 games.<br />Abdelkader is coming off of a career year in 2014-15, during which he scored 23 goals and had 44 points.<br />Before that season, his career best was 28 points.
