. . . Mironov, 32, makes $1.5 million this season, of which the Wings will pick up about $200,000. Macoun, 36, makes $1.1 million, of which the Wings pay about $150,000.

Mironov is eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer and will, in essence, audition for the rest of the season as the Wings decide whether to re-sign him. They have the option of renewing Macoun's contract next season at $1.2 million.

But for now, they no longer have to rely on inexperienced defensemen to round out the blue line. They have eight regulars on the roster, led by Lidstrom and Murphy, who was a vital acquisition at last year's deadline.

"We've upgraded our defense considerably," general manager Ken Holland said. "The depth allows us more options."

Mironov flew to Detroit on Tuesday and will play Thursday night against, oddly enough, Anaheim at Joe Louis Arena. Pushor will debut with the Mighty Ducks tonight in Chicago. Macoun will arrive today but is bruised from a hit by Darren McCarty last week; he should be able to play this weekend.

The Wings have talked all season about bolstering the defense, ideally without losing a player from their roster. The loss of Vladimir Konstantinov to last June's limo accident and the advancing years of Bob Rouse (33) and Slava Fetisov (39), both likely in their last seasons here, intensified the need for a move or two.

"Certainly, we paid a steep price by trading Jamie," Holland said. "If we advance far in the playoffs, it's worth it."

But losing Pushor, 25, should not be too much of a blow. His upside is limited, and Detroit has great depth at that position in the wings.

Jesse Wallin (20), Yan Golubovsky (22) (who was impressive during a 12-game stint in Detroit this season) and Maxim Kuznetsov (21 Tuesday) have greater potential than Pushor, and Aaron Ward (25) and Anders Eriksson (23) already had passed him on the depth chart.

"If we don't have the depth of young defensemen we have right now, we probably don't make the deal," Holland said. "And if we kept all the young guys and allowed them to play on the big club, it would be difficult to remain a Stanley Cup contender."

The acquisitions give the Wings a chance to limit the minutes played by Lidstrom and Murphy down the stretch -- and insurance should someone get hurt.

"Last year we didn't have any injuries, we were very fortunate on our defense corps in the playoffs," coach Scotty Bowman said. "To duplicate that again wouldn't seem really possible."

Bowman said he'll dress seven defensemen a game, rotating four-man units. He's not sure if he'll split up the Lidstrom/Murphy combination and might dabble with Mathieu Dandenault on the blue line again.

"I think we have a lot more flexibility," Bowman said. "And defensemen are so difficult to get right now."

Mironov had a strong playoff last season: 11 points in 11 games, including four assists in four games against the Wings in the second round.

He had career-bests of 13 goals and 52 points last season, and has six goals and 36 points in 66 games this year, with a minus-seven rating and 115 penalty minutes. He has at least 50-point potential, playing on a team as skilled as the Wings.

"We were looking for someone to make that great first pass and get the puck to our forwards, and that's what he can do," associate coach Dave Lewis said. "He can get back, he's rangy enough, and handles the puck very well. It's not just one area of his game we like; we like the whole package.... He was probably the No. 1 guy we were looking at."

Mironov has a strong shot, is a deft passer and has great size (6-feet-3, 215 pounds) and reach. He'll work well on the power play and gives Bowman the chance to re-form a Russian Five unit with Sergei Fedorov, Igor Larionov, Slava Kozlov and Fetisov. "It's an option we have," Bowman said.

Mironov said he's not overly concerned with scoring.

"I need to take care of our zone first," he said. "And if I get a chance to jump up in the play, I take it. I'm here to play the way the coaches tell me to play. Scoring a lot of points, that's not my job, actually."

Fedorov was Mironov's teammate on the silver medal-winning Russian Olympic team last month, where Mironov played on the top unit and first power play.

"He can play a very gritty game sometimes," Fedorov said. "And he's a (good) player around our defensive zone, and he can be a threat offensively." . . .

. . . "Detroit impressed me a lot in the playoffs, especially with the Russian Five unit," said Mironov, 32, a candidate to play with the other four Russians. "This is a great opportunity to be a part of a team like this. It's exciting, but also a little bit nervous, because it is a new team. But I don't think about where I play next year. I just concentrate on my new team."

Mironov has played summer hockey with center Kris Draper, is a former teammate of defenseman Bob Rouse, and has played international hockey with center Igor Larionov and defenseman Slava Fetisov. . .