DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland remains hopeful that Nicklas Lidstrom will return.

Coach Mike Babcock is extremely optimistic that his star defenseman will be back.

Holland met with Lidstrom on Tuesday, following the first day of the club’s pro scouting meetings, but said he doesn’t know yet whether the team captain will play next season or retire. Holland said they will talk again at the NHL Awards Show on June 22 in Las Vegas.

Babcock is convinced that Lidstrom will return, though he hasn’t heard it from him.

"I’m 100 percent optimistic," Babcock said Tuesday.

Asked why, Babcock said, "Why not? He’s too good. And our team is too good for him to quit."

Another club official echoed Babcock’s sentiments by saying he would be shocked if Lidstrom retired.

There are several reasons why the Red Wings believe Lidstrom will return:

-- Despite turning 41 in April, he continues to play at a high level. He is a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman, an award he has won six times. Only Bobby Orr (eight) and Doug Harvey (seven) have won it more.

-- He was second in points among all defensemen (62) and tied for fourth in goals (16). He continued to be productive in the playoffs with four goals and four assists in 11 games.

-- He is healthy and durable, the only Red Wing to play all 82 games each of the past two seasons.

-- Next year would be his 20th season, all in Detroit. It’s a milestone some in the organization believe is important to him.

-- The Red Wings have a lot of salary-cap space and don’t intend to go into any rebuilding mode despite consecutive second-round playoff losses to San Jose. So Lidstrom should have another strong team around him.

Hitchcock in the mix?

The Columbus Dispatch reported that former Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock has spoken to Babcock about an assistant coaching position.

Babcock said that isn’t the case.

"I talk to Hitch a lot, but we haven’t talked about that (assistant’s job)," Babcock said.

Hitchcock was one of Babcock’s assistants on the 2010 Canadian Olympic team.

Hitchcock, who coached the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup title in 1999, is seeking a head coaching job. New Jersey, Minnesota and Winnipeg are seeking head coaches. The Dallas Stars are on the verge of hiring Glen Gulutzan, who coached their AHL affiliate Texas Stars, according to the Dallas Morning News.

The Dispatch reports that Hitchcock has one year remaining on his contract with the Blue Jackets at $1.33 million, and that if he joins the Red Wings, Columbus would be required to supplement his salary up to that amount.

The Red Wings have two assistant coaching vacancies.