The Detroit Red Wings will start the 2017-18 season with 22 players on the roster. Free Press writer Helene St. James assesses what each needs to do to make the team competitive — and then gets players to spill their indulgences.

F Justin Abdelkader

Age: 30.

Contract: Signed through 2022-23 at a salary cap hit of $4.25 million.

Over the boards: One of the few physical players on the team. Needs to produce after subpar 2016-17 season.

Beyond the boards: Movie he watches every time he comes across it on TV? “Elf. It’s just so funny. That’s one always enjoy watching it.”

Related:Detroit Red Wings analysis: Optimism that Justin Abdelkader will bounce back

F David Booth

Age: 32.

Contract: Signed through 2017-18 at a cap hit of $700,000.

Over the boards: Adds a physical dimension, can help out on penalty kill and capable of giving the fourth line some scoring punch.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? "Cereal. Golden Grahams. Cinnamon Chex. And Oreo cookie dough blizzards from DQ."

Related:David Booth turns tryout into contract with Detroit Red Wings

D Trevor Daley

Age: 33.

Contract: Signed through 2019-20 at a cap hit of $3.2 million.

Over the boards: Good skater who can help in all situations and can be used against opposing top lines.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “Cheeseburgers. Really good ones, like Big Macs.”

Related:Red Wings’ Trevor Daley on protests: 'Everybody is entitled to their own voice'

D Danny DeKeyser

Age: 27.

Contract: Signed through 2021-22 at a cap hit of $5 million.

Over the boards: Had a down 2016-17. Should benefit from new partner in Daley and rediscover a bit of an offensive upside.

Beyond the boards: Movie he watches every time he comes across it on TV? “Happy Gilmore. It’s an all-time favorite.”

D Jonathan Ericsson

Age: 33.

Contract: Signed through 2019-20 at a cap hit of $4.25 million.

Over the boards: Can be used against big opposing centers, does little things to break up plays and is a factor on the penalty kill.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “Cauliflower puree with Swedish meatballs in a cream sauce with lingonberries.”

F Martin Frk

Age: 23.

Contract: Signed through 2017-18 at a cap hit of $650,000.

Over the boards: Hard worker with the hardest shot on the team. Will be interesting to see if he can build on promising exhibition season.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “Apple strudel from my grandma.”

F Luke Glendening

Age: 28.

Contract: Signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $1.8 million.

Over the boards: Brings speed and deft penalty killing, but needs to be harder to play against overall, like when he first came into the league.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “Taco Bell, especially their grande meal.”

D Mike Green

Age: 31.

Contract: Signed through 2017-18 at a salary cap hit of $6 million.

Over the boards: The leading source of offense from the back end. Had good 2016-17 overall, but needs to produce more on power plays.

Beyond the boards: Movie he watches every time he comes across it on TV? “Anchorman, because it makes me laugh every time.”

F Darren Helm

Age: 30.

Contract: Signed though 2020-21 at a cap hit of $3.85 million.

Over the boards: Needs to find his groove after slow 2016-17. Good skater, but needs to finish when he gets chances.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “Ice cream with chocolate chip cookies.”\

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G Jimmy Howard

Age: 33.

Contract: Signed through 2018-19 at a cap hit of $5.3 million.

Over the boards: Stay healthy and play like last season, when he put up career numbers.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “Pizza. Either Hawaiian or Buffalo chicken.”

D Nick Jensen

Age: 27.

Contract: Signed through 2018-19 at a cap hit of $812,500.

Over the boards: Good puck mover who, as he grows more comfortable, is capable of adding some offense from the back end.

Beyond the boards: TV show he’d like to guest star on? “Family Guy. It’d be fun to see if Seth MacFarlane could come up with some good lines for me.”

D Niklas Kronwall

Age: 36.

Contract: Signed through 2018-19 at a cap hit of $4.75 million.

Over the boards: The most well-rounded defenseman on the team, but health is a huge concern as he battles hard miles on his body.

Beyond the boards: TV show he’d like to guest star on? “Suits. I think I’d make a good lawyer and fit right in.”

F Dylan Larkin

Age: 21.

Contract: Signed through 2017-18 at a cap hit of $925,000.

Over the boards: Looks ready to take step forward and be more of an impact player. Determined, driven, dedicated.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “Confetti cupcakes.”

F Anthony Mantha

Age: 23.

Contract: Signed through 2017-18 at a cap hit of $863,333.

Over the boards: Realizes he has to work hard and skate every game to be an impact player. Could have breakout season for 2013 first-rounder.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “Filet mignon with truffle butter.”

G Petr Mrazek

Age: 25.

Contract: Signed through 2017-18 at a cap hit of $4 million.

Over the boards: Arrived at camp with terrific attitude. Appears committed to reboot his career after down year.

Beyond the boards: Movie he watches every time he comes across it on TV? “I like something with a bang. I will watch action movies all the time.”

F Frans Nielsen

Age: 33.

Contract: Signed through 2021-22 at a cap hit of $5.25 million.

Over the boards: Hard worker, steady, plays both special teams, and now that he is in his second season with team, he should show more offensively. Can be used in any situation.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “Flodeboller” (a delicious Danish treat of sugar and egg whites whipped into a foamy mixture and coated with chocolate, with a waffle-type cookie for a base).

F Gustav Nyquist

Age: 28.

Contract: Signed through 2018-19 at a cap hit of $4.75 million.

Over the boards: Better goal scorer than he showed last season. Good passer who needs to do his part to make power play a threat.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d all day every day if there were no consequences? “Chips and pizza.”

D Xavier Ouellet

Age: 24.

Contract: Signed through 2018-19 with a cap hit of $1.25 million.

Over the boards: Lacks speed but makes makes sound decisions with the puck, makes for a third-pairing/reserve guy.

Beyond the boards: Movie he’ll stop and rewatch if he comes across it on TV? “Rocky. All of them. One through six.”

F Riley Sheahan

Age: 25.

Contract: Signed through 2017-18 at a cap hit of $2.075 million.

Over the boards: No one needs a good start to 2017-18 more than Sheahan. Better producer and defender than last season’s aberration.

Beyond the boards: Movie he watches every time he comes across it on TV? “Superbad. I just find it really funny.”

F Tomas Tatar

Age: 26.

Contract: Signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $5.3 million.

Over the boards: Willing to play down low and in the corners, finds a way to get open, needs to finish his chances more consistently.

Beyond the boards: TV show he’d like to guest star on? “Family Guy. I’d like to hang out with Peter Griffin.”

F/D Luke Witkowski

Age: 27.

Contract: Signed through 2018-19 at a cap hit of $750,000.

Over the boards: Physical player who will stand up for teammates, can play either right wing or right defense.

Beyond the boards: TV show he’d like to guest star on? “Walking Dead. I’d like to appear as one of the characters — maybe Rick Grimes.

F Henrik Zetterberg

Age: 36.

Contract: Signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $6.1 million.

Over the boards: Still the best player on the team in his mid-30s.

Beyond the boards: Food he’d eat every day if there were no consequences? “I would probably eat Swedish pancakes. They are delicious.”

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.