DETROIT — The Fabian Brunnstrom experiment seems to be over in Detroit.
After making the team out of training camp, Brunnstrom could never crack the lineup and when he did he didn’t earn much playing time.
Now Brunnstrom, 27, may be running into the wrong end of the numbers game with the Wings.
“We haven’t written him off, but we’ve got a couple of things in play,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said.
The numbers concern is the Wings’ 50-man roster limit and the fact they possibly may look to still add a different type of forward or two to Grand Rapids.
Detroit currently has 46 players under contract. That doesn’t include restricted free agents Kyle Quincey and Justin Abdelkader, both of whom will be signed sometime this offseason.
“We want to explore what’s out there,” Holland said. “I think Brunnstrom is a good player, but we need leadership, toughness down there. We’re exploring the market.”
Brunnstrom, who had one assist in five games in Detroit, had 12 goals and 23 assists in 45 games with the Griffins last season.
Two defensemen – Doug Janik and Garnet Exelby – appear headed elsewhere.
The Wings made an offer to Janik, who has spent three seasons in the organization, but he may choose to play in Europe.
“He’s following a lead in Europe, but if he doesn’t sign there he’d consider signing with us,” Holland said.
Janik, 32, had 10 goals and 23 assists in 67 games with the Griffins last season. He has played in 29 games with the Wings.
Exelby, 30, has got a tough side to him, racking up 177 penalty minutes in 75 games with Grand Rapids last year. He also had seven goals and 14 assists.
“We’ve talked about bringing him back, but he’s exploring the market,” Holland said. “We’re not sure what he’ll do.”
