DETROIT - When free agency opens at noon Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings hope to move fast and sign defenseman Trevor Daley.

The Red Wings had productive talks with Daley and his agent this week and identified him as their main target, a source said. He is likely to get a multi-year deal, perhaps two years.

Daley, who'll turn 34 on Oct. 9, is coming off consecutive Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He isn't a difference-maker, but he's mobile and moves the puck well. He won't provide a lot of offense (five goals, 19 points in 56 games last season), but he manages the puck well, can log a lot of ice time (20:22) and can play on the power play and penalty kill.

Daley also was considering the Boston Bruins, according to reports. He earned $2.7 million in 2016-17, the final season of a six-year, $19.8 million contract.

It's a thin free-agent class. The Red Wings also spoke this week with representatives for defensemen Ron Hainsey - Daley's teammates last season -- Dan Girardi (bought out by New York Rangers), Brian Campbell (Chicago) and Dmitry Kulikov (Buffalo), among others.

They were hoping to sign two defensemen. If they do, it remains to be seen how that will affect a crowded roster that already includes seven defensemen. The club doesn't know what to expect from Niklas Kronwall, who has been playing on a bad knee that isn't going to improve. Young Ryan Sproul is coming off ACL surgery and might not be ready for the start of the season.

The Red Wings would like to sign a forward as well - they spoke with Tomas Vanek this week -- but might not have the cap space.

The Red Wings' payroll stands at about $67.7 million. They will be close to or slightly above the cap when they sign restricted free agents Tomas Tatar (likely in the $5 million-a-year range), Andreas Athanasiou and Xavier Ouellet. But they will get some relief by placing Johan Franzen on long-term injured reserve at the start of the season (up to $3.95 million).

The Red Wings will return with almost the same roster.

They lost center prospect Tomas Nosek to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft and elected not to re-sign veteran winger Drew Miller. They will add a defenseman and need two more forwards even after Tatar and Athanasiou are in the fold. One could be prospect Tyler Bertuzzi, coming off an outstanding playoff run during the Grand Rapids Griffins' Calder Cup championship. Ben Street, who played six games for Detroit at the end of the season, will have an opportunity to make the roster. Top prospect Evgeny Svechnikov likely needs another season in the AHL, unless he tears it up in the preseason and forces his way onto the roster.

The Red Wings must sort out their goaltending situation.

Petr Mrazek, left unprotected in the expansion draft, will be difficult to move following a bad season and a limited goalie market (Philadelphia, Winnipeg among few teams seeking help).

Prospect Jared Coreau needs to clear waivers to be sent back to Grand Rapids. Would the Red Wings want to risk losing him?

Would they waive Mrazek instead, hoping he is claimed, which would clear $4 million from their cap? If he weren't claimed and assigned to the Griffins - which would be astounding considering how high the organization was on him just one year ago - only $1.025 million of his salary could be buried in the minors.

Either way, Jimmy Howard, coming off a strong but injury-plagued season, has emerged as their preferred goalie.

Another option is to keep three goalies on the 23-man roster, at least in the short-term, if they have the space.