DETROIT – Defenseman Ian White brings a lot of the elements the Detroit Red Wings needed after Brian Rafalski retired.

White can move the puck and play the point on the power play. He is not out of place among a team's top four defensemen. He shoots right-handed. He is feisty despite his small stature (5-foot-10, 195 pounds). He is young (27). And he won't take up a large chunk of salary-cap space.

The Red Wings on Saturday filled their primary need, signing the free-agent White to a two-year contract worth $2.875 million per season.

White played for three teams last season (Calgary, Carolina, San Jose), picking up four goals, 22 assists and 26 points in 77 games. He was a top-four defenseman for the Sharks and registered one goal and eight assists in 17 playoff games, including a seven-game second-round series victory against the Red Wings.

“We've seen him a lot in the San Jose series,'' general manager Ken Holland said. "He can play on the power play, he's a competitor. He's a guy that thinks the game. He's got the skills. We've got skilled defensemen in (Nicklas) Lidstrom, (Niklas) Kronwall, others, and he's comfortable playing with them.''

Holland added, "He's got some snarl in front of the net.''

The Red Wings have added two of those types of defensemen in two days, after signing Mike Commodore to a one-year, $1 million deal on Friday. They are the club's only two right-handed shooting defensemen.

While other free agents signed mega-deals when the market opened Friday, White took a slight pay cut, having made just under $3 million last season.

The Red Wings made White an offer on Friday and gave him a day to think about it.

“It's definitely an exciting day, getting an opportunity to play with such a great team and great organization,'' White said from his cottage in Kenora, Ontario. “I've played against them for six years. It's just a real special team to play against. It's great to get an opportunity to play with those guys – their puck movement, their puck possession, so many talented players.

“Hopefully I'm a perfect fit for that spot. It really fits my style of game.''

He's looking forward to playing with the likes of Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.

“You stare at those guys, study how good they are,'' White said. “I'm going to learn so much that's sure to make me a better player.''

Last year was difficult for his family, having to move twice while his wife, Tess, was expecting. She was in labor during Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Red Wings. After the Sharks won 3-2, White went to the hospital, where his wife delivered a girl, Gracelyn.

“It was a quite stressful time of year,'' said White, whose son, Paxton, turns 2 later this month.

The Sharks traded a second-round pick for White and expressed interest in re-signing him. But after they traded for Minnesota's Brent Burns at the draft, their interest in White waned.

“Things change in a hurry,'' White said.

White has 36 goals, 143 points and 228 penalty minutes in 401 career games. He had career highs in goals (13), assists (25) and points (38) in 2009-10, split between Toronto and Calgary.

The Red Wings have seven defensemen assured of a roster spot: Lidstrom, Kronwall, Brad Stuart, Jonathan Ericsson, White, Commodore and Jakub Kindl.

Holland said they are inclined to carry seven, but didn't rule out the possibility of carrying eight.

Top prospect Brendan Smith would need an outstanding training camp and preseason, coupled with an injury, to make the team at the start of the season. If he's not playing regularly in Detroit, he'll be in Grand Rapids. But, the Red Wings at some point next season want Smith to spend some time with the team, particularly Lidstrom.

Veteran Doug Janik has a one-way contract but is not subject to re-entry waivers because he didn't play in enough NHL games last season. So the Red Wings can send him down (if he clears waivers) and recall him without the risk of losing him on re-entry and having to pay half his salary.

"We're comfortable with our defense, but if something came up between now and training camp we'll definitely explore and look at it,'' Holland said. “We got nine guys that can play in the NHL. We got depth.''

The Red Wings have 13 forwards on one-way contracts, plus rookie Cory Emmerton, who would be subject to waivers (and likely claimed) if the club attempted to send him back to the Griffins.

“As far as skaters, we're probably done for now,'' Holland said. "We'll continue to explore the market.''

Holland isn't necessarily looking to make a trade between now and camp, but he didn't rule out the possibility.

“Teams are calling with trade ideas,'' he said.

The Red Wings are roughly $7 million under the cap, with 22 players signed.

They still need to sign a back-up goaltender. No move is imminent, but the club has talked to former Red Wing Ty Conklin, one of the few remaining viable options, who played for St. Louis the past two seasons.

Other available backups include Marty Turco (Chicago), Ray Emery (Anaheim) and Curtis McElhinney (Ottawa).

Holland hasn't ruled out the possibility of re-signing Osgood. The only concern is he didn't play after Jan. 4 due to surgery for a sports hernia and then had a couple of setbacks.

The Buffalo Sabres might be the only other team in need of a backup goalie.