Sign on the dotted line

Draper ends holdout, inks four-year deal with Detroit

Latest: Tuesday September 26, 2000 11:08 PM

DETROIT (AP) -- Center Kris Draper ended his holdout, signing a four-year, $4.7 million contract to stay with the Detroit Red Wings.

"We are all very pleased to have Kris back with the club," general manger Ken Holland said Tuesday. "Kris always has been a very competitive player and we welcome him back to our lineup."

Draper was a restricted free agent and was the team's last unsigned player. He had five goals and seven assists in 51 games for Detroit this past season.

The 62nd overall pick by Winnipeg in the 1989 draft, Draper has 47 goals and 59 assists in 418 career games.

Draper joined Detroit in 1993. He became the symbol of Detroit's rivalry with Colorado when, during the 1996 playoffs, the Avalanche's Claude Lemieux shoved Draper into the boards, causing a facial injury that required plastic surgery