DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings made qualifying offers to nine players before Monday’s deadline, retaining their rights when they become restricted free agents Thursday.

In addition to making qualifying offers, as expected, to Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader, Patrick Eaves, Drew Miller and Derek Meech, the Red Wings also qualified defensemen Sergei Kolosov and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, forward Jamie Tardif and goaltender Daniel Larsson.

They severed ties with forwards Evan McGrath and Johan Ryno, who were not extended qualifying offers and now are unrestricted free agents.

The Red Wings are not close signing any of their restricted free agents, but all -- except for the Europe-bound Tollefsen and Larsson -- eventually will be re-signed.

“We’ve had discussions, but it’s still early in the process,’’ Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said. “It gets more serious when you get closer to the deadline (July 15, when qualifying offers expire; the sides can continue contract talks). In the next two weeks it’ll pick up more.’’

Restricted free agents have limited options. They can accept their qualifying offer (one year at a 10 percent raise from their 2009-10 salary), negotiate a longer-term deal with the club, seek an offer sheet from another team after July 1 (highly unlikely, since their club has the right to match or receive a draft pick as compensation) or play in Europe.

Eaves, Miller and Meech have salary arbitration rights but don’t have a strong enough case to file by the July 5 deadline.

The Red Wings are approximately $5.2 million under the salary cap ($59.4 million). Signing Helm, Abdelkader, Eaves, Miller and Meech will cost roughly between $3.2 million and $3.5 million in cap space. Meech remains a candidate to be traded before the season.

Tollefsen, acquired from Philadelphia in February in the Ville Leino trade, and Larsson informed the club last month that they will play in Sweden next season, where they will earn more money than if they had remained in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Red Wings will retain their NHL rights.

The 6-foot-5, 209-pound Ryno once was a promising prospect. But he left Grand Rapids midway through the 2007-08 season to return to his native Sweden. He came back to North America last season and played in five preseason games with the Red Wings. But he again bolted for Sweden rather than play in Grand Rapids.

McGrath never developed during four years in the Red Wings’ system. He was assigned to Syracuse (AHL) late last season, his fourth with the Griffins.