DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings aren't going to fill their biggest need - a top-pairing, puck-moving defenseman - through free agency.
The market is thin and the Red Wings don't have much salary-cap space.
But they are going to pursue one or two older, second- or third-pair defensemen. Trevor Daley, Ron Hainsey, Dan Girardi and Brian Campbell are among the veterans on their list, a source said.
Free agency opens Saturday at noon. Teams were allowed to speak to free agents on other clubs this week and the Red Wings talked to many players and their agents by phone.