DETROIT, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The Detroit Red Wings have signed star forward Henrik Zetterberg to a 12-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.
The native of Njurunda, Sweden, is in his sixth NHL season. His contract, the longest ever in the National Hockey League, runs through 2021.
"Henrik is one of the world's premier players at both ends of the ice," Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland said. "This is a tremendous commitment on the part of the organization as well as by Henrik. We feel he is moving into the prime of his career and is another key to ensuring the long-term success of this franchise. We are thrilled that a player we drafted and developed will play out his career in Detroit with this lifetime contract."
To date this season, Zetterberg has compiled 43 points (17 goals and 26 assists) in 45 games.
In the 2007-08 season, he had 92 points (43 goals, 49 assists) and was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, won by teammate Pavel Datsyuk. The award is presented to the outstanding defensive player in the NHL.
