The Detroit News reports that Steve Yzerman has been offered a one year contract earlier today at lunch.

Steve Yzerman could officially be back with the Red Wings by Saturday. Yzerman, 40, was offered a one-year contract by the Red Wings Wednesday at a Toronto lunch with general manager Ken Holland and senior vice-president Jimmy Devellano. Financial terms of the offer were not disclosed. “We offered Steve a one-year contract and he said he’ll get back to us by the end of the week,” Holland said.

The Wings are likely to make some sort of announcement at Saturday’s NHL entry draft in Ottawa. The Wings had hoped to have an answer from Yzerman before the unrestricted free-agent period begins Monday.

Holland believes Yzerman can be a significant addition to the Wings this season. “I want Steve to play this year,” Holland said. “With the new coaching staff, he can be a tremendous asset to the coaches with his leadership in the locker room. He has some great hockey left in him.”

In other news, Darren McCarty has made a five paragraph open letter to the fans.

Darren McCarty may no longer be a Red Wing, but in an open letter to Detroit fans, he says his heart will always be with the team, and Detroit will remain his home.

“Please don’t shed a tear ’cause it’s over,” McCarty says in the five-paragraph open letter, obtained Wednesday by the Free Press. “Crack a smile ’cause it happened, and no one can ever take that away.”

The 33-year-old forward, who was on three Stanley Cup championship teams with the Wings, was placed on waivers Monday, and his contract was bought out by the team on Tuesday.

In the letter, signed with his name and the number he wore for the Wings, McCarty said “looking back, what I really feel is gratitude — thankful for the opportunity to realize a childhood dream to play for my childhood team.”

You can read the entire letter to fans tomorrow in the Detroit Free Press.

I’m not one much for rumors, but Kuklas Korner has heard from a source that Barry Smith will not remain as assistant coach for the Wings. It appears that Kocur will be offered some position within the organization, but no longer as assistant coach.