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[Ducked Up]

Red Wings sign Draper


TSN.ca Staff
7/1/2004
Kris Draper never wanted to leave Detroit, so it's with great relief when his agent called him 15 minutes before midnight on the eve of the NHL's free-agent season to tell him he was staying put with the Red Wings.

``I'm just thrilled,'' Draper told The Canadian Press on Thursday. ``This is what I really wanted. It was an interesting process but I signed a four-year deal with the team I really wanted to stay with.''

The 33-year-old, who would have become an unrestricted free agent Thursday, signed a four-year, $11.2-million US contract. And just as important, his new contract contains a no-trade clause.

``That was big,'' Draper said. ``I've played 15 years with the same team, the no-trade clause means a lot to me. That's why I wanted to get this done before testing free agency.


``This team has shown a commitment to winning and I wanted to remain a part of that.''

After earning $1.475 million last season, Draper will make $2.8 million in 2004-5, $2.8 million in 2005-06, $2.8 million in 2006-07 and $2.8 million in 2007-08, and can add to that with performance bonuses.

``We're tickled pink, we're very, very happy to keep Kris in a Wings uniform,'' GM Ken Holland said from Detroit.

``He's a tremendous person and a great leader in our locker-room. We really wanted to keep him in Detroit.''

Reports of the deal leaked out during the day Wednesday but Draper's agent Don Meehan said nothing was completed until late at night.

``I have no idea where that report came from but we didn't get this done until 20 minutes before midnight,'' Meehan said Thursday.

Draper had a career-high 24 goals and 40 points last season and won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward. He was also named to Team Canada for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.

``I saved the message on my answering machine from Wayne Gretzky telling me I made Team Canada,'' Draper said. ``I can't wait for the World Cup. Playing for Canada at the world championship in Helsinki (in 2003) was a great experience and I'm looking forward to doing it again.''

Regarded as one of the best penalty killers in the game, Draper and linemate Kirk Maltby spear-headed Detroit's No. 1-ranked penalty killing last season while Draper also posted a plus-22 rating.

``It was a tremendous disappointment for us in the playoffs (a second-round loss to Calgary), and that really stands out, but personally I had a real good year and this is the reward for that,'' Draper said.

The Wings, meanwhile, still have their work cut out for them with Brendan Shanahan, Mathieu Schneider, Chris Chelios and Steve Yzerman all unrestricted free agents.

Yzerman isn't going anywhere, but first wants to determine whether or not he's fit to play in the World Cup later this summer and therefore continue his career.

The Wings did not pick up Shanahan's $6.5-million option for next season, wanting to sign him for less.

``We continue to talk,'' Holland said. ``We made a pitch to try and keep him in Detroit. With these uncertain times ahead of us, we're trying to get him back at a reduced salary.''

Talks also continue with Chelios, 42, who earned just over $5.9 million last season.

``Chris would like to stay in Detroit and we'd like to have him back, we'll see what happens,'' Holland said.

But it does not appear the 35-year-old Schneider will return.

``We're really not talking,'' said Holland. ``We made a pitch about a month ago but his agent told us they were going to try out the free-agent market. I'd say there's a good chance Mathieu will move on.''

The Wings also cut their ties with Brett Hull, 40 next month, who is an unrestricted free agent.