DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings forward Kirk Maltby will make his retirement official today at a 5:30 p.m. news conference at Joe Louis Arena.

Maltby, 37, decided to retire after 16 NHL seasons rather than play in the AHL for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

General manager Ken Holland said Maltby has accepted a position as a pro scout. It's a post the club did not fill after Pat Verbeek was hired by Tampa Bay in the offseason.

During his prime, Maltby was a premier grinder and penalty killer and among the hardest players in the league to face because of his physical, agitating style. He was a mainstay on the club's heralded Grind Line, with Kris Draper and Darren McCarty, for many years.

"It’s been awesome, winning the Stanley Cups with the Grind Line, so much fun, back in the late '90s when the T-shirts came out,'' Draper said. "For role players, or grinders, or whatever you want to say, to be able to stay in a city as long as both of us have, it’s something we really appreciate. We know it’s very special, very rare.

"Kind of grew up with him, same with Ozzie (Chris Osgood). Spent so much time and so many great memories ... it’s been a real special relationship. This is beyond hockey, the friendships we created.’’

Maltby played 14 seasons in Detroit and is one of four Red Wings to play on all four Stanley Cup-winning teams since 1997 (the others are Nicklas Lidstrom, Draper and Tomas Holmstrom).