DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings appear close to signing forward Kirk Maltby to a one-year contract.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland will meet with Maltby later this week, and Maltby's agent, Anton Thun, said, "I anticipate we'll have some news by the end of the week.''

The club has a standing one-year, two-way contract offer on the table to the longtime Red Wing.

Maltby, 37, has been exploring the free-agent market, but Thun said his client's preference is to remain in Detroit.

"He's been with Detroit a long time (since 1996), his family is there,'' Thun said. "I think we can come to a mutually agreeable contract.''

Maltby would not be assured a roster spot. He would have to earn that in competition with a handful of forwards.

If he doesn't make the team, he would be assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins, if he were to clear waivers.

The Red Wings have 25 players on their roster and need to trim two before the start of the regular season. They are expected to move defenseman Derek Meech and a forward, either Drew Miller or Mattias Ritola.