Red Wings reach 4-year, $19 million deal with Nyquist

DETROIT (AP) Gustav Nyquist has been one of Detroit's top young players over the past two seasons, and now the Red Wings have rewarded him with a long-term contract.

Nyquist agreed to a $19 million, four-year deal, the team announced Friday. The 25-year-old Swedish forward was the only Detroit player to file for arbitration, but the Red Wings avoided that by coming to terms on a deal. Nyquist had 27 goals and 27 assists last season. He finished two goals behind Tomas Tatar for the team lead.

''We're very happy to have Gustav locked up for four more years,'' general manager Ken Holland said in a statement. ''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.''

The Red Wings also announced that they have hired Mike Kadar as strength and conditioning coach.

Nyquist scored a team-high 28 goals in 57 games in 2013-14, and his contributions have been crucial in helping the Red Wings extend their streak of postseason appearances to 24 seasons. With Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk aging - and Datsyuk coming off ankle surgery - there may be even more pressure on players like Nyquist and Tatar.

Nyquist was a fourth-round draft pick by the Red Wings in 2008.

The Red Wings added defenseman Mike Green and forward Brad Richards in free agency this month.

Detroit will be in its first season under coach Jeff Blashill after Mike Babcock left to take over the Toronto Maple Leafs.