DETROIT -- The dust has settled three weeks after the start of NHL free agency, and the Detroit Red Wings still have a lot of salary-cap space.

But their money will collect dust for now because their 23-man roster appears to be set. General manager Ken Holland does not anticipate signing another free agent (a handful of notable-but-aging forwards and defensemen remain unsigned) or making a trade before the season.

With roughly $5.8 million in cap space, the Red Wings will have flexibility to make a midseason move or two.

"I think we can compete and I like our cap space," Holland said. "If, after 60 games, we get to the (trade) deadline and are in a playoff position, we can make a deal. We haven’t had that (cap space) the last couple of years."

The Red Wings made a few changes but didn’t feel the need to overhaul what still is a talented roster with several players in their prime. They opted not to exhaust their cap space on overpriced free agents in a thin market.

On defense, the Red Wings signed Ian White and Mike Commodore and lost Brian Rafalski (retired) and Ruslan Salei (Russia). Top prospect Brendan Smith will battle for a job in training camp, but unless he’s playing every game in Detroit, he’ll start the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

At forward, Detroit will have Jan Mursak and Cory Emmerton (if he makes the team) on the roster from the start and lost Mike Modano (likely to retire). Holland will decide shortly whether to re-sign Kris Draper.

Ty Conklin replaces the retired Chris Osgood as the backup goaltender. Joey MacDonald, who will start in Grand Rapids, was re-signed as the third goalie in the organization.

The club also re-signed four of its own free agents -- defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom and Jonathan Ericsson and forwards Patrick Eaves and Drew Miller.

"If we had to go to training camp next week, we’re ready to go," Holland said.

The Red Wings tried to acquire a top-six free-agent forward. They made an offer to Jaromir Jagr, who signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. They showed interest in Tomas Fleischmann and Scottie Upshall, each of whom signed a four-year deal with the Florida Panthers.

"I’d like to add a top-six forward, but so would every other team in the league," Holland said. "We wanted to add a guy like (Danny) Cleary, a good, two-way forward. We explored but came up short on a few (players), either in dollars or term."

Holland estimates that as many as 20 teams are capable of winning the Stanley Cup.

"That’s the beauty of our league," Holland said. "Vancouver and (Cup champion) Boston both went to the finals last year and won Game 7 in the first round in overtime. They were one goal away from being eliminated.

"We’re still a good team and we can compete with teams perceived to be the best in the Western Conference."

Draper decision is nearing

Holland will speak with Draper in the next couple of days and expects to decide by next week whether to offer him a contract.

A roster spot, not cap space, is the issue. If the Red Wings sign Draper, they would need to move a player before the start of the season.

"If he plays another year, his role is diminishing," Holland said. "We need young players to push and eventually take away older players’ jobs. If that’s not happening, we’re not doing our job.

"We’re talking about (whether) he’s comfortable with the (diminished) role."

Draper has said he will not sign a two-way contract -- he has no desire to play in the AHL -- or come to training camp on a tryout.

"He wants to stay a Red Wing and he loves Detroit, but we have 13 or 14 forwards," Holland said.