Wings sign Colaiacovo, extend Abdelkader

September 14, 2012September 26, 2012 MiHockey Staff

abdelkader check — Justin Abdelkader signed a four-year extension with the Wings today. (Tom Turrill/MiHockey)

By Michael Caples –

Just a day before the current collective bargaining agreement expires, the Red Wings took care of some loose ends.

The club officially announced long-speculated deals with defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo and current Red Wings forward and Michigan native Justin Abdelkader.

Red Wings’ general manager Ken Holland signed Colaiacovo to a two-year deal, while Abdelkader earned a four-year extension with his hometown team.

Colaiacovo, 29, brings depth and experience to the Red Wings’ blue line, a portion of the roster that has been of concern since the departures of Nick Lidstrom and Brad Stuart this off-season. In 370 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs, Colaiacovo has recorded 30 goals, 109 assists, and 191 penalty minutes. He was a first-round pick of the Leafs (17th overall) in the 2001 NHL Draft.

Abdelkader, the Wings’ second-round pick in 2005, is entering his fourth full season with the club. In 209 career NHL games, the former Michigan high school Mr. Hockey and Michigan State Spartan has 18 goals, 29 assists, and 160 penalty minutes.