Justin Abdelkader remains on the Detroit Red Wings' payroll, and now he may be on their minor-league affiliate's payroll, too.
The former longtime Wings forward has signed a professional tryout contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Abdelkader, who turns 35 next month, played last season in Switzerland, where he won the 2021 NHL title with EV Zug. He played for the Wings from 2007-08 to 2019-20, rising to become an alternate captain.
His play dropped off as he aged, and general manager Steve Yzerman opted to buy out Abdelkader in 2020. That put the Wings on the hook to play Abdelkader $2,305,556 this season and next season, and then $1,055,556 in 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.