Bertuzzi Offered Two-Year Deal

According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Ken Holland has made an offer to unrestricted free agent Todd Bertuzzi for a two-year contract as well as making qualifying offers to the Wings restricted free agents:

The Wings have offered a two-year deal to unrestricted free-agent forward Todd Bertuzzi. They also have extended qualifying offers to all five of their restricted free agents: forwards Patrick Eaves, Drew Miller, Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm and defenseman Derek Meech. There have been some preliminary talks with the agents for Eaves and Miller. Eaves, Miller and Meech all have arbitration rights.

Bertuzzi's deal is expected to be a small discount to last season's 1-year/$1.5m agreement in light of the added security of a multi-year deal -- one that Bertuzzi hasn't has since Brian Burke and the Anaheim Ducks bought him out of the second and final year of his 2-year contract in 2008. Any financial details of the offer are, at this stage, just speculation and the Bertuzzi's agent is still yet to confim an agreement.

Nicklas Lidstrom to Return for Another Year

According to Ansar Khan of Mlive, the Detroit Red Wings' captain Nick Lidstrom will finalize the details of a one-year contract extension with Ken Holland later this week.

A source told Booth Newspapers on Monday that Lidstrom has decided to return for another season. The club is expected to finalize a one-year contract extension this week with the six-time Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top defenseman.

In Lidstrom, the Red Wings see the return of their leader and one of the defenseman in the League, still at the ripe old age of 40. While the details of the contract are still very much a guessing game, the cap hit for Lids will most likely be a uniquely high one for a player of his age, even after the hometown discount -- but Nick is a uniquely talented player, with whom the Red Wings are perennial Cup-contenders.

The deal has been officially signed for $6.2m for the 2010/2011 season.

Bertuzzi Talks, Ritola Re-Signs, Larsson to Sweden

According to the Free Press, Holland and co. have begun talks with Bertuzzi's management for a possible multi-year deal.

"Certainly the organization liked what Todd did, and Todd enjoyed his year in Detroit, and is interested in coming back," agent Pat Morris said.

Bertuzzi, 35, made $1.5 million last season. He was one of three Wings (with Lidstrom and Brad Stuart) to play all 82 games, during which he produced 18 goals among 44 points. He followed up with 11 points in 12 playoff games.

The deal might end up being for two years, as Bertuzzi, after moving every year since first leaving Detroit in the summer of 2007, is eager for some continuity. Earlier in the season, in discussing Detroit, he told the Free Press, "When the grass is as green as it is here, why go anywhere else?"

But with around 6 weeks until free agency begins and Nick Lidstrom's status still undecided, it's unlikely many deals much more than minimum salary will be inked any time soon.

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Red Wings goalie prospect, Daniel Larsson has signed a 2-year deal with HV71 of Sweden's Eliteserien per mlive. The contract has an 'out-clause' which would allow him to return to the Red Wings after one year if he wishes.

Larsson has spent the last two season in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins and has expressed frustration at not being able to make the big leagues.

"They wanted me in the AHL for at least another year, but I felt that the two seasons were enough. They don't have a solid goalie coach down there and another season could stop my development,"

It's interesting to note, that HV71 happens to be the same club former Red Wing prospect, Stefan Liv fled to after a disappointing halt in his development after a promising start to his pro-career. Hopefully this move is good for Larsson and he doesn't end up being just another Liv.

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Also per mlive, Wings' prospect, Mattias Ritola has signed a three-year contract extension worth $1.55m -- a cap hit of around $516.7k. Ritola will be subject to waivers but not re-entry waivers for the first season.