DETROIT – Jordin Tootoo realized he was on borrowed time with the Detroit Red Wings, who needed to make a move or two to alleviate their roster crunch and create salary-cap room.

Still, it was a bit of a jolt being waived since the scrappy forward loves being a Red Wing.

Tootoo, 30, cleared waivers today. He'll remain with the Red Wings for now, but is destined to be assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins, once defenseman Jonathan Ericsson comes off long-term injured reserve next Friday.

“Obviously, it comes down to numbers and cap space,’’ Tootoo said, just before he learned he had cleared. “I just want to thank the organization for giving me the opportunity to play and hopefully one day I can come back and be a Red Wing again.

“I just want to have an opportunity to be in the lineup every night. Being a pro every day, coming to work, being an every-dayer is part of my repertoire. It is what it is and whatever happens is meant to be.’’

Tootoo isn’t gone yet. He is not in the lineup for tonight’s game against the Dallas Stars at Joe Louis Arena (7:30, Fox Sports Detroit), but he can still play for the Red Wings until he is sent down. Once he is sent down, the club will receive only $925,000 (prorated) in cap relief, per the new collective bargaining agreement, which prevents teams from shedding a veteran's entire contract by burying him in the minors.

That's still not enough to make room for Ericsson. So unless someone else goes on long-term IR, the Red Wings will need to shed more salary through a trade or waivers. Forward Patrick Eaves is the player most likely to be moved.

The Red Wings tried trading Tootoo but teams were reluctant to acquire him because of his contract (two years, including this season, at $1.9 million per season). That is the reason he was not claimed.

The Red Wings signed Tootoo to a three-year, $5.7 million free-agent contract on July 1, 2012. He had spent his first eight NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators.

“Obviously, they brought me in to be a physical presence,’’ Tootoo said. “When you’re given an opportunity to be in the lineup, my goal is to bring emotion and energy. Obviously, it’s not going to happen every shift and when you play a limited amount of ice time it’s hard to make things happen, but at the same time you got to be a pro about it and make sure you do your best when you’re called upon to do your job.’’

Tootoo just wants a chance to play. He’ll eventually go to Grand Rapids and will be available to the Red Wings if they need to call him up as an injury replacement.

“At the end of the day, I want to play hockey, wherever I end up, it’s going to give me an opportunity to be in the lineup,’’ Tootoo said. “As a hockey player, we’re bred to compete and battle for each other. For me, it’s hard not being in the lineup because it’s just my nature. I want to go to war for my teammates. Wherever I end up I’m sure I’ll have the opportunity to play.’’

Tootoo appeared in only eight games this season (no points, five penalty minutes, minus-4 rating).

He skated this morning, calling it a regular day at the rink.

“These guys in the dressing room have been so great with me coming in, welcoming me with open arms, it’s like a brotherhood around here,’’ Tootoo said. “I’m definitely going to miss that, coming to the rink every day, because these guys are special and this organization as a whole has been a class act.’’