Red Wings sign Jonathan Ericsson to 6-year extension

29-year-old Swedish defenseman will stay in Detroit

DETROIT – The Detoit Red Wings have signed defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to a six-year contract extension, according to the team.

Details of the contract have not been released.

The 29-year-old would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency during this upcoming offseason. He signed a three-year contract in July 2011.

Last season, Ericsson was second on the team with an average ice time of 21:19. The 6-foot-4 Swede has played his way into the team's top defensive pairing with kinsman Niklas Kronwall.

In 15 games this season, Ericsson has 5 points and a +3 rating. He is averaging even more minutes. For instance, on Sunday in Buffalo, Ericsson logged 24 minutes of ice time.

The Red Wings drafted him with the last pick of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He has played 292 games with Detroit since making his NHL debut in 2007-08.