DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings will part with some players and add a few parts this offseason, but they don't have the salary cap space or the need to make major moves.

Any changes they make likely will be minimal, especially if Nicklas Lidstrom returns.

That is why improvement must come from within. They have a lot of players who need to elevate their game and others who should be better by being healthy and rested.

"A message has been sent to myself as a coach and the management that we have to improve our team,'' Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "How do you improve your team?

"You improve your team by Val Filppula taking a big step. He's at that point in his career he's got to take a step. You improve by Mule (Johan Franzen) being healthy, by (Jonathan) Ericsson taking a big step.''

Two days after being eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference semifinals, the Red Wings cleaned out their lockers Monday following the team photo.

Looking ahead to next season, Babcock expects more from players they already have, not anybody they might acquire.

Filppula, who missed 26 games early in the season with a broken wrist, is a playmaker, not a finisher, but the team thinks he is capable of being a 20-goal, 70-point producer.

Dan Cleary missed 18 games with injuries and battled inconsistency after posting consecutive 20-goal seasons.

Franzen might have topped the 30-goal mark again if he hadn't missed 55 games because of a torn knee ligament.

Stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg figure to produce more than 70 points each.

The Red Wings' biggest addition likely will be Jiri Hudler, who will bolster their offense after spending one year in Russia.

"It's 70 points we didn't have. That's a second power-play unit that can score,'' Babcock said. "It's more goals for everyone because of the plays he can make. We're going to give him an opportunity to be a top-six forward. He's got to show he can be one.''

The Red Wings need more skill and scoring punch from their third line. Filppula, Cleary and/or Hudler can help in that area if they're not playing on one of the top two lines.

The club must decide whether to re-sign Todd Bertuzzi. Jason Williams isn't expected to return.

On defense, Nicklas Kronwall and Ericsson figure to be better. Kronwall wasn't the same after returning from a knee injury that idled him for two months. Ericsson struggled during his first full NHL season after showing much promise in the 2009 playoffs.

"(Ericsson) has got to come back next year and take a real step,'' Babcock said. "He's very capable.''

Jakub Kindl, their 2005 first-round pick, will compete for the sixth spot on defense, possibly with veteran Andreas Lilja, if he is re-signed. Brett Lebda is not likely to return.

"There's a number of things we can do internally, and then we'll make some changes to help ourselves get better,'' Babcock said. "In the end, we weren't deep enough.''

A longer offseason will help players re-energize.

"In our organization, we believe the final four is the measure,'' Babcock said. "You have to be in it every year. And when you don't get there, you're disappointed. The gift of it this year is they can take now and until the end of May off and have 15 weeks to train. You can get your body back.''

No question that three long playoff runs took their toll.

"I guess that's the good thing you can take out of losing early,'' Lidstrom said. "You can recharge for an extra three or four weeks.''

This team's success will hinge, to a large extent, on whether Lidstrom, the six-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman, returns or retires. He said he will decide before July 1, the start of free agency.

Babcock is optimistic.

"I just think he'll be back. I'm not one bit concerned,'' Babcock said. "He's got too much good hockey left in him. I think if he believed we didn't have a chance to win, it might be different. But I think he's like the rest of us, he thinks we'll be right back knocking on the door.''