Former Red Wings defenseman Andreas Lilja realized his chances of earning a new contract with the Red Wings were slim to none. So, the 35-year-old veteran is taking his skills west to San Jose.

Lilja will attend the San Jose Sharks training camp on a tryout, hoping to earn a contract with the NHL club. The Sharks are coached by former Red Wings assistant Todd McLellan, who seems pleased about the level of play Lilja will bring.

"He's going to make it a more competitive camp because he's a veteran player," McLellan said in a released statement. "He is familiar with the coaching staff and our system because it is similar to what he came from."

Lilja turned down a one-year deal from Detroit this summer and hasn't attracted much interest since. There was speculation he'd attend training camp with the Wings in Traverse City, but the Red Wings blue line is already full and there's very little chance he'd make the squad.

I hope Lilja can latch on with the Sharks. He's had a rough two-year stretch and admirably battled his way back from a concussion, the effects of which seemed like they might derail his whole career.