Red Wings lock up Kronwall through 2012

The Detroit Red Wings announced today that they have signed defenseman Niklas Kronwall to a five-year contract extension through the 2011-12 season.

Additional terms of the deal are not available.

Kronwall, 25, is currently in his second full NHL season. In 16 games this season, he has three assists to go along with a plus-two rating.

A first-round (29th overall) draft pick of the Red Wings in 2000, Kronwall has played in 63 games and scored two goals with 15 assists.

The native of Stockholm, Sweden, has experienced success at every level of hockey. He won the Eddie Shore Award as the American Hockey League's best defenseman in 2004-05 while with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

In international competition, Kronwall was named to the All-Star team at the 2005 World Championships and won a gold medal with Sweden at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy.