DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland met with Kirk Maltby Thursday morning and said the 37-year-old forward will decide on his future on Monday.

Maltby will take the weekend to decide whether to report to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins or retire.

Reading between the lines, it appears Maltby is leaning toward retirement.

In the meantime, Holland confirmed that Maltby will play in Friday's season opener against Anaheim if Todd Bertuzzi (back) can't play. Holland, however, believes Bertuzzi will play.

"I know which way (Maltby) is leaning. I told him to take the weekend and make his final decision on Monday,'' Holland said.

“If Bert wakes up tomorrow and feels as good as he does today, Bert’s going to play. I think we’re going to have Bertuzzi in the lineup, but certainly if we need a call-up Maltby’s a call-up.’’

If Bertuzzi can't play, it might end up being sort of a farewell game for Maltby.

“(Maltby) still wants to play, he still thinks he can play, but when you’ve played as long as he’s played in the NHL, to go down to the AHL ... if he felt he was going down for a conditioning stint or a period time and coming back, that’s one thing, but to go down and think you’re going to be a shuttle guy, I don’t know that he really wants to do that.

“At the same time, he also knows when he makes the decision to retire, it’s for the rest of his life.’’

Holland added, "He’s not sure what he wants to do. I think he’d like to play, but he’d like to be in the NHL.''

Holland said if Maltby retires, he could a spot for him in the organization. The club hasn't filled the pro scouting vacancy created in the summer by Pat Verbeek's departure to Tampa Bay.

"If (Maltby) doesn’t want to play (in the AHL) and there’s an opportunity to find a position in our organization, like I’ve done with these other (former players), I would try to do the same thing,'' Holland said.