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Wings re-sign Pulkkinen, have quite the surplus of forwards

Teemu Pulkkinen

Teemu Pulkkinen

AP

The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed winger Teemu Pulkkinen to a one-year contract worth a reported $812,500.

Injuries limited Pulkkinen to just 36 games (6G, 6A) in 2015-16. The 24-year-old had shoulder surgery in June and may not be ready for the start of next season.

But the signing of Pulkkinen gives the Wings yet another forward under contract for 2016-17. They already had 15, not including Johan Franzen and Joe Vitale, both of whom are expected to remain on long-term injured reserve.

GM Ken Holland said recently that he might try and turn his surplus of forwards into a defenseman via trade. The key will be if youngsters Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou are deemed NHL-ready come training camp.

“Part of this might be let’s get to September and see,” Holland told the Detroit News. “I’m hoping we’ve got 15, 16 NHL forwards and we’re positioned to do a deal.”

Related: The Ducks have too many defensemen