A big, bruising player at 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, Abdelkader has an appetite for contact and agitation, and his forechecks are emphatic.

Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Abdelkader joined Cedar Rapids of the United States Hockey League for the 2004-05 season, where he won the Mr. Hockey Award as the state's top high school player.

Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (No. 42) of the 2005 NHL Draft, Abdelkader attended Michigan State University. During his sophomore season, in a tense Frozen Four final, he scored the game-winning goal at 19:41 of the third period to break a 1-1 tie with Boston College. The Spartans added an empty-net goal to seal a 3-1 victory and a third NCAA national championship.

Abdelkader was named to the all-tournament team and Most Outstanding Player.

Turning pro, he played two seasons for Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. When the Red Wings won their 11th Stanley Cup championship in 2008, Abdelkader was part of their title celebration despite playing two regular-season games and none in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Abdelkader made the Red Wings roster to open the 2009-10 season and became a fixture at left wing. On opening night in 2015-16, he became the second Red Wings player in 70 years to score three goals in a season opener (Adam Brown, 1945).

On Nov. 12, 2015, Abdelkader signed a seven-year contract. He played for the United States at the World Cup of Hockey 2016, where he scored one goal in three games.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team (2007)
• NCAA Championship Tournament MVP (2007)
• AHL All-Rookie Team (2009)