DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are no longer in the running for highly coveted collegiate free-agent defenseman Justin Schultz.

Schultz's agent, Don Meehan, gave Red Wings general manager Ken Holland the news on Wednesday.

“He (Meehan) informed me today we are not one of the teams on his list he wants to sign with,'' Holland said.

Almost every team in the NHL was pursuing the highly skilled right-handed shooting defenseman from Wisconsin.

The Red Wings made their pitch earlier this week. They were prepared assure him of a roster spot at the start of the season, which is what any team that pursues him must do. They impressed upon his agents the opportunity in Detroit created by the departures of Nicklas Lidstrom (retired) and Brad Stuart (signed with San Jose).



“He became officially free on Monday,'' Holland said. “We expressed to his agents we have interest in signing him. Don Meehan expressed to me that he would go through the process.''

Holland added, “I don't know if we were ever in it.''

Schultz reportedly has narrowed his list to five teams and will meet with those clubs over the next two days in Toronto.

Vancouver, by some accounts, is the preferred destination of the Kelowna, British Columbia native.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Schultz, who turns 22 on July 6, can't sign until Sunday.

Schultz's contract will be the same wherever he goes. He is restricted to a two-year, two-way entry-level deal with a base NHL salary of $925,000. His team must make a $3.8 million salary-cap commitment, however, due to potential bonuses.

He was drafted by Anaheim in 2008 (second round, 43rd overall), but did not want to sign with the Ducks, whose 30-day exclusive negotiating window with Schultz expired on Monday.

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