DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed restricted free agent Gustav Nyquist to a four-year deal worth $19 million.
UPDATE: The #RedWings today agreed to terms with RW Gustav Nyquist on a four-year contract. – http://t.co/kWkiccDAzB pic.twitter.com/05ERyVkqSH
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 10, 2015
CONTRACT: Nyquist AAV 4.75M. Details: 3M + 1M SB, 4.25, 5.25, 5.5. Full NTC in years 3 and 4.
— WAR On Ice (@war_on_ice) July 10, 2015
The Red Wings essentially paid a bit more than expected for an extra year of term. After being a huge part of the Red Wings success over the last two seasons, I love the contract. It keeps him here at a cap-friendly AAV through his prime.
When you compare this contract to that of Brandon Saad’s newest terms with the Columbus Blue Jackets, I think you get a handle on how great of a deal it is. Saad will be making $6 million next year after scoring less points than Nyquist did. I think this is a home run deal for the Red Wings organzation.
More from the Red Wings organization:
The Detroit Red Wings today agreed to terms with right wing Gustav Nyquist on a four-year contract. In accordance with club policy, additional details will not be disclosed.
“We’re very happy to have Gustav locked up for four more years,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland. “He’s quickly become an important part of our team, and is a critical piece to the Red Wings’ future. He is just now entering the prime of his career.”
Nyquist has been Detroit’s top goal-scorer over the last two seasons, scoring a combined 55 goals since the start of the 2013-14 campaign. After beginning that season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and racking up 21 points (7-14-21) in 15 games, Nyquist went on to skate in 57 games with the Red Wings and led the team with 28 goals. In his first full-time NHL season, the 25-year-old bested his point total from the previous year and finished fourth on the club with 54 points (27-27-54) in 82 games. He tied for third in the NHL with 14 power-play goals, pacing a Red Wings team that led the league in that category with 70. Nyquist also ranked among team leaders with 27 goals (2nd), 27 assists (T5th), 24 power-play points (T2nd), four game-winning goals (4th), 195 shots (3rd), a 13.8 shooting percentage (4th) and eight shootout goals (1st).
Since making his NHL debut during the 2011-12 season, Nyquist has tallied 115 points (59-56-115) and 44 penalty minutes in 179 games with the Red Wings. Now entering his fifth professional season, Nyquist also skated in 137 games with the Griffins from 2010-14, racking up 143 points (53-90-143). He was also a member of Grand Rapids’ 2013 Calder Cup championship team alongside new Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill, notching seven points (2-5-7) in 10 games after returning from Detroit’s playoff run. Nyquist was a two-time AHL All-Star, a 2012 AHL All-Rookie Team member and a 2013 AHL First-Team All-Star.
The Halmstad, Sweden, native made his men’s national team debut during the 2013-14 campaign, winning a silver medal at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and earning a bronze medal at the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Minsk, Belarus, after tallying six points (4-2-6) in 10 games. A former fourth-round pick (121st overall) of Detroit in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Nyquist attended the University of Maine before turning professional and recorded 144 points (50-94-144) in 113 games from 2008-11. He led the nation in scoring as a sophomore and was a two-time Hobey Baker nominee as the top player in college hockey.
This story is developing.
