Netherlands federation official said its lawyers had checked

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings signed defenceman Jonathan Ericsson to a $25. Edmonton Oilers Pro Shop .5 million, six-year contract Wednesday to keep him off the market in July. "He wouldve been tough to lose in free agency," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "This was a big priority because in a two-year period, we lost Nick Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and Brad Stuart. We couldnt afford to lose Big E, too." Detroit drafted Ericsson with the last pick in the 2002 NHL draft, 291st overall, and he has played in 292 games since making his debut in the league during the 2007-08 season. He averaged 20-plus minutes a game last season for the first time in his career, which previously included sitting and watching defencemen such as Lidstrom, Rafalski and Stuart play a lot more. "He had a tremendous opportunity last year as one of our top defencemen for the first time and he took full advantage of it," Holland said. "When we played Chicago and Anaheim in the playoffs, he played against their best offensive players. Big E is a big guy who is really mobile and has developed into a player we count on in a lot of situations." The 29-year-old Ericsson has 14 goals, 62 points and a plus-14 rating entering Wednesday nights game against the Boston Bruins over at least parts of seven NHL seasons. The Swede has five goals and 16 points in 64 post-season games. He had 13 points -- two shy of his career high -- in 45 games last season during the lockout-shortened slate. Ericsson is in the third and final season of a three-year contract he signed in the summer of 2011 Cheap Oilers Jerseys . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Edmonton Oilers Shirts . JOHNS, N. https://www.cheapoilers.com/ . And once again, Team Homan emerged as the victor with the reigning national champions defeating Team Sweeting at the Pintys All-Star Curling Skins Game Friday night in the tournaments opening draw at The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in beautiful Banff National Park.COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil -- Michel Platini says FIFAs choice of World Cup draw procedure was not his idea, despite it favouring his native France. Platini told reporters he offered to leave the room Monday during talks about a "FIFA administration" proposal. A lottery will now decide which unseeded European team goes into Pot 2 -- sure to face two high-ranked opponents from Europe and South America. France, the loweest-ranked European qualifier, was the expected automatic choice because of a 2006 World Cup precedent. Oilers Jerseys 2020. On Tuesday FIFA said all nine unseeded Europeans would be in the lottery which opens the draw ceremony Friday. FIFA vice-president Platini says: "I am not the only Frenchman in FIFA." A Netherlands federation official said its lawyers had checked whether the FIFA decision was allowed. ' ' '