August is the quietest month in hockey, perfect for deeper looks at Red Wings players. Today’s focal point: Defenseman Mike Green.

Looking back: 14 goals, 22 assists, 36 points, minus-20 rating in 72 games. Improved slightly from his first season in Detroit (2015-16), and had double the goals. The lack of power play production was problematic – Green averaged 2:44 per game on man advantages, a team high among defensemen, but he had just 10 power play points.

Part of the power play’s struggles fell on Green for not getting the puck down low quicker from his position as point man. His style of play goes hand-in-hand with some risky plays, but there were too many turnovers. He was the team’s best defenseman during the first half.

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Looking at money: Entering last year of contract with an annual average value of $6 million.

Looking ahead: Green, 31, was signed because the Wings desperately wanted an offensive defenseman who shoots right-handed. With the decline of Niklas Kronwall, Green has emerged as go-to source for points from the back end (his .50 points-per-game average nearly doubled Nick Jensen, who was second on the team at .27).

Green is headed toward unrestricted free agency next summer, so his future hinges on the success of the team. If the Wings are in the playoff picture in the month leading up to the trade deadline, the Wings could discuss a one-to-two year extension in the $4.5 million range. If Green is not amenable to that, or if the Wings are out of the playoff race, it makes sense to follow the blueprint from this past spring and trade him for a draft pick.

The Wings have a new defenseman in Trevor Daley, and while Ryan Sproul lacked assertiveness when he got into the lineup, he has not had a real chance to gain a foothold in Detroit. Then there is money to consider – contracts expire for Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Petr Mrazek next summer – and $6 million off the books would help cover those extensions.

Beyond that, depending on how prospects Filip Hronek and Vili Saarijarvi fare this coming season in Grand Rapids, maybe one or both will hint at being ready for an NHL audition in 2018-19. Plus there is Libor Sulak, the Czech defender signed this spring. He probably will spend 2017-18 in Finland, but his two-year contract was signed with the understanding he will be in North America in 2018-19, either in Detroit or Grand Rapids. But to reiterate with Green, if the Wings don’t have him in their lineup, they are getting next to nothing offensively from their back end.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.

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