George Sipple

Detroit Free Press

Drew Miller, still rehabbing from a January surgery to repair a torn ACL, said he’d like to play again for the Detroit Red Wings.

Miller, 32, made $1.35 million this past season and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. An important penalty killer, Miller was limited to 28 games this season. He scored one goal and one assist.

Wings general manager Ken Holland has some tough choices ahead this summer and might not have the luxury of retaining a veteran fourth liner. Holland admitted Monday the team needs to add more size and will explore some trades ahead of the NHL draft in June.

“I’d like to come back,” Miller said.

Miller has played for the Wings since the 2009-10 season. His best season offensively was 2011-2012, when he chipped in career-highs of 14 goals and 25 points.

He admitted this season was one he’d like to forget. He had played in every game the past two seasons, chipping in 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points over 164 games.

“The good thing is my knee is going to come back stronger,” he said. “My ACL has been torn or partially torn for 10 years. I’m going to come back a little stronger in my knee. I’m definitely motivated.

“I’ve worn a knee brace my whole career. It’s always been partially torn, they said. They went in there and found out it was fully torn for a long time.”

Why didn’t he have the surgery earlier?

“I never had any problem,” Miller said. “I was able to skate and play and I was fine. I never had an issue. It never was something that hindered me. When I tore my meniscus they went in there and fixed both. Now it feels better.”

Miller said there will be big changes if Pavel Datsyuk decides to leave.

“We’ll see what other changes are in store,” Miller said. “For me, it’s just getting myself healthy and getting an opportunity to get another contract.”

Briefly: Goaltender Jake Paterson was reassigned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. Grand Rapids also recalled defenseman Joel Chouinard from Toledo and signed forward A.J. Jenks to a professional tryout. Grand Rapids begins a division finals series Thursday at Lake Erie in the Calder Cup playoffs.

Contact George Sipple: gsipple@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgesipple.

Check out our Red Wings Xtra app on Apple and Android!

Darren Helm wants to return to Red Wings, but it's complicated

Blashill plans to alter roles, needs more from Red Wings' youngsters