Detroit defenceman Andreas Lilja played 12 post-season games for the Stanley Cup champs this spring. Detroit defenceman Andreas Lilja played 12 post-season games for the Stanley Cup champs this spring. (Jack Dempsey/Associated Press)

The Detroit Red Wings re-signed Andreas Lilja to a $2.5-million US, two-year contract Monday, hours before the defenceman would have become an unrestricted free agent.

Lilja, who turns 28 on July 13, had 12 points (two goals), a minus-two plus-minus rating and 93 penalty minutes in 79 regular-season games with the Wings last season.

He added one assist, a plus-three rating and 16 penalty minutes in 12 playoff games for the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings.