SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Detroit Red Wings are making their final pitch this week to prized free-agent defenseman Danny DeKeyser.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland traveled from Phoenix to Toronto to meet with the representatives of the former Western Michigan University star.

DeKeyser is expected to weigh numerous offers and make his decision by Friday.

The money will be the same wherever he goes, since the 23-year-old is limited to an NHL entry-level contract (two years for a player his age). His decision will be based on opportunity, where he believes he will get a chance to play right away.

Ordinarily, the Red Wings don't make promises of a roster spot and playing time to prospects. But, they might have to make an exception for DeKeyser, who many believe is ready to step into the NHL after his junior year with the Broncos.

DeKeyser met with Toronto Maple Leafs brass on Tuesday and watched their game against Florida at the Air Canada Centre. Anaheim, St. Louis, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Ottawa and Nashville are among the other clubs reportedly pursuing DeKeyser.

Many believe the Red Wings have the edge, for a number of reasons.

DeKeyser, native of Macomb, Mich., has talked with the Red Wings several times over the past couple of years and attended one of their summer prospect camps in Traverse City. He played youth hockey with Trevor Nill, the son of assistant general manager Jim Nill, who knows his family well. He played one season at Western Michigan under Jeff Blashill, the former Red Wings assistant coach who now is the head coach for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Nill described the 6-foot-3, 200-pound DeKeyser as "a character player … great size, range, moves the puck well, a very good skater for a big man ... solid all-around defensively ... knows the game well, plays within his limitations … hard to beat one-on-one because of his range, his reach and his skating ability.''

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