DETROIT -- As the first wave of high-priced free agents signed with new teams Thursday, the Detroit Red Wings sat back and watched.

With most of their roster in place, they have neither the salary cap space nor the need to make a splurge in the market.

General manager Ken Holland's interest will perk up over the next several days as second- and third-tier players look to sign.

"I talked to a few agents (Thursday), but my message is we're probably doing our shopping a week from now, or five days from now, or three days from now,'' Holland said.

Holland spoke to future Hall-of-Fame center Mike Modano, whose 21-year career with the Dallas Stars organization ended after the club declined to offer him a contract.

The 40-year-old Westland native might be intrigued by the possibility of finishing his career in Detroit, but would he accept a reduced role and low salary?

"We're interested in players that fit our style of play and our salary structure,'' Holland said. "They got to fit both. (Modano) fits our style of play.''

But he doesn't fit their salary structure, unless he's willing to play for less than $1 million.

Holland would like to sign a low-priced sixth or seventh defenseman and/or a gritty fourth-line forward. He also is looking for a veteran goaltender on a two-way contract for the Grand Rapids Griffins. The search could last well into August.

"When all the high-end guys (sign), we can look to the secondary market,'' Holland said. "We'd like to sign one more defenseman, but we don't have to. We're probably done up front, but if I can find a forward who gives us a different dimension, we'll look at it.''

Holland has spoken to the agent for Kirk Maltby.

"He's going to shop the market until early next week,'' Holland said. "If something doesn't come of it, we'll talk.

"I'm open to bringing him back. They also understand there's (Patrick) Eaves and (Drew) Miller and (Darren) Helm and (Justin) Abdelkader and (Mattias) Ritola and (Kris) Draper. If (Maltby) does come back, he's competing for a spot.''

If Maltby comes back, it might be on a two-way contract.

Holland also talked to the agents for defensemen Andreas Lilja and Brett Lebda.

"I told them it's in their best interest and our best interest if they explore the market,'' Holland said. "We can have a conversation next week if they're still out there. That doesn't mean we'll sign them.''

The Red Wings have 18 players signed for $54.2 million, leaving them with $5.2 million in cap space. But most of that will be exhausted with the signings of their restricted free agents -- Helm, Abdelkader, Eaves, Miller and possibly Derek Meech. Plus, they need to stay about $500,000 under the cap to call up a player in case of short-term injuries.

Holland said he has had more conversations with the agents for Eaves and Miller because they have a Monday deadline to decide if they want to file for arbitration.

Forwards still available include Aaron Asham (Philadelphia), Brad Winchester (St. Louis), Owen Nolan (Minnesota), Jamal Mayers (Calgary) and John Madden (Chicago).

Lower-tier defensemen still on the market include Nick Boynton (Chicago), Ruslan Salei (Colorado), Shane Hnidy (Minnesota) and former Red Wing Aaron Ward (Anaheim).