The regular season is closed to wrapping up. The Red Wings will be missing the playoffs once again, so injuries and such won’t be kept away from the public. There is also some housekeeping to take care of. The off-season essentially has started for Ken Holland & co.

Here is all the latest news and updates regarding HockeyTown you need to know:

It’s that time of year.

Detroit has already started to shut players down for the year, such as Mike Green. Recently added to that list is Justin Abdelkader, who is out for the season with a hairline fracture in his leg. Abdelkader had possibly the worst season of his NHL career, finishing with just six goals and 19 points. It’s unlikely Detroit will buy him out this summer, seeing as he still has five years remaining on his contract, the longest term of any player on the team.

Jacob De la Rose is another candidate to shut down for the final nine games. He left Tuesday’s game early with an irregular heartbeat. De la Rose dealt with similar cardiac issues at the Montreal Canadians training camp back in September. Heart problems are not to be taken lightly, which is wise they would be wise to end his season.

On the back-end, Jonathan Ericsson and Trevor Daley have been sidelined with injury for the past few games, however, they are still traveling with the team.

Under emergency conditions due to the multitude of injuries they have sustained on defense, Brian Lashoff and Libor Sulak have been recalled. Sulak in particular will intrigue fans. He’s an exciting rookie who has had his ups and downs in his first season in North America. He is set to become a restricted free-agent this summer, so this will be a good test for him.

No surprise after Jimmy Howard survived the trade deadline that the Red Wings would look to re-sign the Maine product. Multiple reports indicate Howard and the Red Wings are close to inking a one year contract, worth $4 million. Howard, who just recently turned 35, most likely was unable to strike a two-year deal due to the CBA’s 35-and-over rule.

When the deal came through, it was revealed that Howard’s contract AAV is just north of $5-million, but his actual salary is $4-million with the balance being paid out in playoff bonuses (should the team make it that far).

Signing Howard was the obvious right move. Him and Jonathan Bernier will make up Detroit’s goaltending tandem once again next season. None of the Red Wings goalie prospects are close to be NHL ready.