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Report: Detroit to make decision on Holmstrom in July

Tomas Holmstrom, Joe Thornton

Detroit Red Wings’ Tomas Holmstrom, left, and San Jose Sharks’ Joe Thornton fight for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 3, 2011, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

AP

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Red Wings will make a decision on bringing back Tomas Holmstrom next month.

Holmstrom, 39, told the paper he’s spoken to Wings GM Ken Holland and that the organization is “going to decide [in the] beginning of July what’s going to happen.”

As the Free Press’ Helene St. James points out, Holmstrom’s words seem to indicate that if the Wings want him back, he’d be open to returning. There was much speculation he, like recently-retired teammate Nicklas Lidstrom, would ride off into the sunset this offseason and call it a career.

But it appears that might not be the case.

More, from St. James:

The Wings want to add a top-six forward via free agency, and could decide some of their own players, like Cory Emmerton and Jan Mursak, don’t fit into the future. Regarding Holmstrom, both sides have the luxury to see what happens in early July, then go from there.

Wings head coach Mike Babcock said at the end of the season that if he’s to return, Holmstrom’s role would be primarily as a power play specialist and a fourth-line forward.