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Daniel Cleary (right) has spent eight of his 15 NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

(AP File Photo)

The Detroit Red Wings would like to have forward Daniel Cleary back, but the only way that will happen is if they can shed some salary.

The Red Wings have 22 players signed for $65 million, just over the $64.3 million salary cap. Their payroll will increase and they will have 25 players signed, two over the roster limit, once they come to terms with restricted free agents Brendan Smith, Nyquist and Andersson.

Teams can go 10 percent over the cap during the off-season but the Red Wings don't want to add a significant contract and not be able to dump salary before the season.

The Red Wings initially made Cleary a two-year offer and agreed to tack on a third year at a reduced rate. But that offer came off the table once free agency started at noon on Friday and the team signed Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss.

In the meantime, Cleary is free to sign with any team.

Cleary, 34, has spent the last eight years of

with the Red Wings after being signed by Detroit a free agent prior to the 2005-06 season.

He's scored at least 20 goals three times with the Red Wings and was a member of their 2008 Stanley Cup championship team.

In 48 games last season, Cleary had nine goals and six assists. During the playoffs,

behind Henrik Zetterberg with four goals and six assists in 10 games.

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Also, the reason forward Damien Brunner is exploring the market is the Red Wings declined to meet his asking price of $3.5 million per season.