Red Wings resign Kronwall

The Detroit Red Wings, parent club of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins have re-signed defenseman Niklas Kronwall to a two-year contract.

In keeping with club policy, additional terms of the contract are not available.

Kronwall had a strong year in 2004-05, leading the entire Grand Rapids squad in scoring with 53 points in 76 games(13g,40a,53 pts). He was the American Hockey League’s top scoring defensman and was the first European-born player to win the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s best defenseman.

Kronwall, 24, was drafted by Detroit in the first round (29th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He signed with the Wings in 2003 and joined the Griffins for the start of the season before being recalled to Detroit in December.

Kronwall was selected to the All-Star Team for the 2005 World Championships in Austria after scoring three goals and three assists for six points in nine tournament games.