Ken Holland-locker clean out.jpg

Red Wings GM Ken Holland said after the season he'll be aggressive in pursuing trades at the draft.

(Brendan Savage | MLive.com)

DETROIT - A potentially busy off-season for the Detroit Red Wings began in earnest last week when Pavel Datsyuk officially announced he was leaving for Russia.

It continues this weekend at the entry draft in Buffalo, where general manager Ken Holland will continue exploring trade possibilities. He'll start talking to representatives of other teams' potential free agents on Saturday, when that window opens.

The first round of the draft is Friday and the final six rounds on Saturday.

"I've talked to a lot of teams; I really started talking last week," Holland said. "Whatever trades are going to be consummated, around the league, I expect them for the most part to be Friday-Saturday. I've had conversations with lots of managers, I'm not sure what will come of it, but I'm talking to a lot of people."

If the Red Wings make a trade, it's likely to be for a top-pair defenseman, their biggest need.

They could use offensive help up front, too, especially after Datsyuk's departure. But there are better free-agent options at forward on July 1, starting with Steven Stamkos, if he doesn't re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The free-agent market on defense is thin (top names include Jason Demers, Brian Campbell, Dan Hamhuis and Luke Schenn). That is why several names are being tossed around in the rumor mill, including Kevin Shattenkirk (St. Louis), Cam Fowler (Anaheim), Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg), Zach Bogosian (Buffalo), Matt Dumba or Jonas Brodin (Minnesota) and even P.K. Subban (Montreal).

"Everybody is looking for a top-three defenseman," Holland said. "If one is available the price is going to be steep."

The Blues are expected to deal Shattenkirk, a good, puck-moving, right-handed shooter (14 goals, 44 points) who's only 27. But before any team relinquishes a significant asset for him they're going to want to lock him up to a long-term deal (he has one year remaining at a $4.25 million cap hit and actual salary of $5.2 million).

The Ducks could look to move Fowler, after locking up Sami Vatanen to a four-year, $19.5 million deal last week. Fowler, a left-handed shot, also is a good puck-mover with offensive skills. The Windsor native is young (24), but has just two years remaining on his contract ($4 million cap hit) before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency. So the team that acquires him needs to be sure it can extend him.

Trouba, a Rochester native, continues to be mentioned in trade rumors even though he's only 22 and a restricted free agent. That's probably because the low-spending Jets have other defensemen signed to lucrative pacts (Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers and Tobias Enstrom).

Several teams have reportedly inquired about Subban, even though Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has said he won't be traded. Subban's no-trade clause takes effect on July 1.

No news on Datsyuk contract

Holland continues talking to a select group of teams capable of absorbing Datsyuk's $7.5 million cap hit, but it doesn't appear a deal is imminent because the cost remains high (second-round pick and a top young player/prospect like Andreas Athanasiou or Evgeny Svechnikov). The Red Wings also are reluctant to take back a bad contract in return, preferring to clear the entire amount of Datsyuk's cap.

It's possible the Red Wings wait until July 1 or later. They will make a pitch for Stamkos (they don't need to dump Datsyuk's contract beforehand), and if they're successful they might be willing to part with an asset they ordinarily wouldn't move. If they don't land Stamkos or another prominent free agent (the list includes Milan Lucic, David Backes, Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen), they might keep the contract rather than part with a good asset.

Arizona, Carolina, Winnipeg and New Jersey are among the few lower-spending teams that might be willing to assume the contract (Datsyuk would be officially retired from the NHL and wouldn't be getting paid).

Howard trade unlikely

The Red Wings are likely to go into the season with Petr Mrazek (restricted free agent) and Jimmy Howard in goal.

They would like to move Howard, but his contract (three years at a $5.3 million cap hit) and a thin market makes it difficult. Calgary is believed to be the only team seeking a starting goalie and appears to have other options, through trade (Ben Bishop, Marc-Andre Fleury or Jaroslav Halak might be available) or free agency (James Reimer, Chad Johnson).

The Red Wings aren't going to buy out Howard and have six years of dead cap space (according to CapFriendly.com's calculator, the cap hit would be $1.4 million, $1.9, $2.6, $1.6, $1.6 and $1.6) and the actual cost would be $9.8 million.

They could have close to $10 million committed to their goaltenders because Mrazek is due a significant raise, between $4 million and $5 million per season on a long-term deal. He apparently isn't interested in a two-year bridge contract.

Follow MLive Sports on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Download the Detroit Red Wings on MLive app for iPhone and Android

Follow Ansar Khan and Brendan Savage on Twitter