DETROIT -- Jonathan Ericsson wants to be a top-four defenseman. Now he’s going to be paid like one.

The Detroit Red Wings on Thursday signed Ericsson to a three-year contract worth $3.25 million a season, a source told Booth Newspapers.

That’s a huge raise from Ericsson’s salary of $1.25 million in 2010-11, which was the final year of a three-year deal that had a salary-cap hit of $900,000. But the Red Wings felt it was necessary to keep the 27-year-old, who likely could have commanded that much or more if he explored the free-agent market, which opens today at noon.

Ericsson, the final pick in the 2002 entry draft (291st overall), entered the NHL with a lot of promise late in the 2008-09 season. The Red Wings like his size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), skill set and potential.

But after a strong playoff run in 2009, Ericsson struggled mightily in 2000-10, finishing with 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and a minus-15 rating. He showed some improvement this past season, with 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) and a plus-8 rating. He still has been mistake-prone and has lacked consistency.

Unless the Red Wings sign a top-four defenseman in free agency -- the options are limited -- it appears Ericsson will have a greater role next season, after being their fifth defenseman in 2010-11.

Ericsson has a higher cap hit than defenseman Niklas Kronwall ($3 million hit, $3.75 million salary for 2011-12), who enters the final year of his contract. The Red Wings likely will start contract talks during training camp on an extension for Kronwall.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, who told Booth Newspapers last Friday that he and Ericsson's agent were "in the same ballpark'' in contract talks, could not be reached for comment.

Holland earlier on Thursday said that he was making progress in contract talks with right wing Patrick Eaves.

Eaves, 27, also would like the opportunity for a greater role after two seasons as a grinder and penalty killer who also has contributed offensively (25 goals combined in the past two seasons). A source said the team offered Eaves slightly more than $1 million per season. He made $750,000 in 2010-11.

The Red Wings also are trying to re-sign forward Drew Miller, but are not close. Miller realizes his role as a fourth-line grinder would continue, but he doesn’t want to be in the same predicament as last season, when he was a healthy scratch in 15 games.

"Just had a philosophical conversation (with his agent)," Holland said. "I made an offer. Can’t say we’re making a lot of progress."

Miller’s agent, former Red Wings defenseman Jason Woolley, did not return a call seeking comment.

Jagr offer won't increase

Holland talked again Thursday with the agent for Jaromir Jagr and said: "Nothing’s changed. We’re still staying in contact."

Holland said his initial offer of a one-year deal to Jagr, made several weeks ago, hasn’t changed. He said he doesn’t necessarily need an answer from Jagr by noon today, but then the player runs the risk of the team signing other players and not having space for him.

"If he calls July 2 and we haven’t signed anybody ... it all depends on which way the dominoes fall (in free agency)," Holland said.

Jagr’s agent, Petr Svoboda, said earlier in the day he’s still talking to the Pittsburgh Penguins and other teams.

Free-agent options limited

The NHL’s 2011 free-agent class wasn’t strong to begin with, and now it’s even thinner, after several players signed this week with the clubs that owned their rights.

Still, the Red Wings are determined to sign a defenseman and a back-up goaltender -- and maybe a forward, too.

"What happens with some of our own guys impacts our thinking (Friday)," Holland said. "There’s a number of players we have interest in at forward, defense and in goal.

"We got quite a bit of cap space. We’ll see if we use it all or not."

The Red Wings aren’t likely to exhaust the roughly $12 million they have under the $64.3 million cap, saving some money for potential trade deadline deals.

They aren’t infatuated with any of the remaining free agents and won’t get into any bidding wars for their services. They had the opportunity to acquire the negotiating rights to several of them but didn’t want to part with a draft pick.

The list of available defensemen includes James Wisniewski (Columbus), Ian White (San Jose), Ed Jovanovski (Phoenix), Tomas Kaberle (Boston), Anton Babchuk (Calgary), Andy Greene (New Jersey), Jan Hejda (Columbus) and Shane O’Brien (Nashville).

"On defense, we’d like to do something," Holland said. "The market is getting picked over. It’s an expensive market."

Center Brad Richards is by far this year’s premier free agent and likely will command in excess of $6 million per season. The Red Wings have enough cap space to sign him, but a top-tier forward is not their biggest need.

"Up front, we’ll see what goes on with Jagr," Holland said. "We got 10-11-12 forwards signed, just looking for the right fit."

As for finding a backup to Jimmy Howard, Holland said, "We’re not going to spend a lot on a backup (goalie). Chris Osgood is an option, but we want to explore what’s out there."

Coaching search winds down

Holland said coach Mike Babcock continues to talk to assistant coaching candidates and hopes to have his staff in place early next week. The team has two vacancies.

"We’ve narrowed it down to a few guys," Holland said.