SAN JOSE, Calif. -- After experiencing the most unusual rash of injuries in recent memory this season, the Detroit Red Wings soon will be feeling the uncomfortable effects of a salary-cap crunch and roster pinch.

Tomas Holmstrom will return to the lineup Tuesday in San Jose. No problem fitting him in. That is why rookie Justin Abdelkader was assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL) on Friday.

The first difficult decision comes before

, when the club must trim one player to meet the 23-man roster limit and shed roughly $700,000 to get under the $56.8 million cap.

One or more cuts will follow

from a concussion. He will begin a conditioning stint in Grand Rapids (AHL) on Wednesday. If all goes well for him, he could be activated as early as next week.

With Franzen and Lilja on the active roster, if there are no additional long-term injuries, the Red Wings would need to trim two players and about $2 million from their payroll, general manager Ken Holland said.

Here is a look at who is susceptible to being moved and who is safe (their salary cap hit is in parentheses):

Ville Leino ($800,000)



It is becoming apparent he is on his way out. He has had ample opportunity to prove he belongs and has not shown enough determination, losing puck battles and doing little offensively (four goals, three assists in 42 games).

Maybe he will be an effective NHL player one day, but the Red Wings can’t afford to wait. It is doubtful they would sacrifice anyone else at the expense of Leino. In all likelihood, they will try to trade him for a low-round draft pick. Failing that, he probably will be waived and claimed by another club.



Brad May ($482,000)



He has filled a valuable role as an enforcer and provides a physical presence in limited ice time. It’s nice to be able to insert him into the lineup against opponents that like to play rough. But he likely will be waived if and when Lilja returns.

May undoubtedly would clear waivers, but it is doubtful he would go to Grand Rapids. He is 38 and nearing the end of his career and might retire.





Derek Meech ($483,000)



Holland said it is unlikely he will carry eight defensemen. That doesn’t bode well for Meech if Lilja returns.

The Red Wings opted to keep Meech over Kyle Quincey at the start of last season. Quincey has blossomed into a steady NHL defenseman. Meech has lacked consistency, which isn’t easy to develop while being shuffled in and out of the lineup and sitting for long stretches.

If the club can’t deal Meech and opts to waive him, he likely would be claimed.

One concern for the Red Wings is losing a defenseman and then having Lilja experience a setback or just not being nearly as effective after missing almost one full year. But their hands appear to be tied if he is cleared.



Brett Lebda ($650,000)



He has the edge over Meech, having played regularly on teams that reached the Stanley Cup finals the past two seasons.

Jason Williams ($1.5 million)



Would the Red Wings consider moving this unrestricted free-agent forward now if they don’t plan on re-signing him after the season? Probably not, considering they need offense.



Kirk Maltby ($833,000)



He likely is safe. He has been a Red Wing for 14 seasons and though his output has declined and he isn’t as abrasive as he once was, he still is a valued penalty-killer.



Drew Miller ($413,000)



He isn’t going anywhere. When the Red Wings plucked him off waivers from Tampa Bay on Nov. 11, they probably expected to send him down when they got healthy. Miller nixed that notion by doing a terrific job on the penalty-kill and providing more offense than anyone anticipated (seven goals, 14 points). He is a restricted free agent who surely will be re-signed in the off-season.



Patrick Eaves ($500,000)



He, too, is here to stay. His stock has steadily risen after a slow start. He is strong on the penalty-kill, willing to block shots, plays with an edge, forechecks hard, has speed and has fit in nicely on a consistent energy line with Darren Helm and Kris Draper.

Like Miller, he is a restricted free agent who figures to be re-signed.