Report: Red Wings closing in on deal with LW Zetterberg

Jan 20, 2009 - 1:27 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Despite holding the position as the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Detroit Red Wings and their brain trust have their work cut out for them in the upcoming months.

But according to a published report on Monday, Detroit general manager Ken Holland is close to crossing off one of his tasks on a crucial list of things to do.

The Detroit Free Press reported that the team is closing in on a long-term deal with left wing Henrik Zetterberg.

"We've made progress in the last two weeks," Holland told the newspaper on Sunday. "There's still a little work to be done, but I'm optimistic."

Faced with the inevitable task of trying to lock up Zetterberg and fellow stars Johan Franzen and Marian Hossa with deals in the near future, Holland has begun his attempt to keep all three without denting his salary cap.

Zetterberg's possible deal will reportedly reach 10 years, according to the newspaper, and could be designed to keep the salary-cap hit around $7 million a season.

"Not knowing where the cap might be is a factor in my thinking," Holland said. "It might shrink."

The Wings want to get the contract wrapped up by the March 4 trade deadline, but will focus on getting Franzen and Hossa re-signed if discussions with Zetterberg hit a road block.

"I'd like to have somebody signed by the deadline," Holland told the Free Press. "We'll continue on here with Henrik and hope we can find a solution. If not, I'll turn my sights to other guys. But Henrik is the priority - we drafted him, developed him, he's an assistant, and has the potential to be the captain."

A native of Njurunda, Sweden, Zetterberg has recorded 17 goals and 25 assists in 43 games this season. Selected in the seventh round by Detroit in the 1999 draft, the 28-year-old has collected 169 goals and 374 points in 398 contests over his six-year career with the Red Wings.

Though Zetterberg remains the team's top priority, Holland will not let Franzen and Hossa explore the free-agent market easily.

In August 2006, Franzen re-signed with the Red Wings to a three-year contract worth $2.825 million. The 29-year-old Swede has registered 21 goals and 11 assists in 40 games this season.

Meanwhile, Hossa signed with Detroit over the summer, promptly after leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins and suggesting he would like to command nearly $10 million per season over a lengthy period of time.

Instead, Hossa reportedly declined long-term deals by the Edmonton Oilers and Penguins before Holland convinced the All-Star to sign a discounted one-year, $7.45 million contract with the Red Wings.

The 30-year-old Hossa, who helped the Penguins win the Eastern Conference only to fall to the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals last season, has notched 22 goals and 23 assists in 45 contests this season.