The Detroit Red Wings certainly had one of their least memorable seasons in recent memory, but there are plenty of positive areas to build on. The obvious silver lining to all of the player injuries lost was that it gave the younger Red Wings and opportunity to stretch their legs.

To take it an optimist’s step even further, one could make the argument that Detroit got a great and extended look at some previously unknown commodities. There is always the hope that a prospect will develop into something special. Let’s face it, the junior hockey bus doesn’t drop off a Sidney Crosby or even a Nathan MacKinnon with any type of regularity.

General Manager Ken Holland is known for letting his young draftees “ripen” either in Grand Rapids or with a return trip to their junior team until he sees fit to advance them. His track record has shown this to be an effective method of player development and the 2013-14 season showcased just that.

Heading into the offseason, Holland and head coach Mike Babcock acknowledged that there will be wholesale changes to a roster that just wasn’t good enough to consistently compete at an elite level.

As good as the call-ups were for Detroit this season, there is actually more talent on the way. Last year’s 1st round draft pick Anthony Mantha was just named OHL player of the year and will compete for a roster spot in Hockeytown this fall. The 19-year old sniper is raw, but has size, speed and snarl, something that the Red Wings sorely need.

With a crop of free agents ready to test the market on July 1st, will the Red Wings use any of their ample salary cap space to improve their roster? The Wings have will be about $20 million under the cap and will look to resign Dan DeKeyser, Tomas Tatar and Riley Sheahan. Here are five possible candidates that could fit in nicely.

5. Jonas Hiller, G

Don’t laugh, hear me out here. If Hiller was signed to play behind Jimmy Howard in Detroit, you would see the equivalent of what Jonas Gustavsson gave the Red Wings when he was called upon. With expectations low, Hiller could presumably push Howard, or, as Gustavsson did at times this year, supplant Howard as the number one. He has presumably played his last game in Anaheim and could be reborn playing in the Motor City.

4. Dan Boyle, D

There may only be a year or two left in the soon-to-be 38-year old’s tank, but that might be all that Detroit needs him for as they let a couple of farmhands mature in the AHL. Boyle is a smart, puck-moving defenseman who has been in the league a while and still remains productive. His 12 goals and 36 points would put him behind only Niklas Kronwall among Detroit defensemen. The San Jose Sharks have opted not to re-sign Boyle, so the right-handed veteran could be a low-budget (and short-term) option for Detroit.

3. Devin Setoguchi, RW

Detroit is starving for a veteran caliber wing with some pedigree that has some size and touch around the net. Setoguchi is several years removed from a 31-goal, 65-point campaign in San Jose, but he is still only 27 and could be a nice fit in Detroit’s possession style of play.

2. Ryan Callahan, RW

The price is probably too high for Callahan, and you have to believe that Tampa Bay will at least drive the price up on a long-term deal. Considering the style that Callahan plays with, he would immediately be a fan favorite in Motown. He’s hardly a sniper, but his physical play and blue-collar work ethic would certainly endear him to the Red Wing faithful. He’s a bit undersized to be a conventional “power forward” and would probably cost too much.

1. Matt Niskanen, D

Niskanen had a re-breakout season in Pittsburgh as the de-facto leader of the Penguin’s defensive unit. Considering all the injuries that the Pens had to contend with, it was Niskanen who stepped up in the absence of Kris Letang and Paul Martin. He is a coveted right-handed defenseman, only 27-years old and could be the steal of free agency. With a relatively weak market, the price for his services will be high.