We’re a little less than three weeks away from the start of the 2016-17 NHL regular season. For now, some of the league’s best players are competing in the World Cup of Hockey, while the rest are in training camp preparing for the preseason games that start next week. We have a lot of news regarding some notable players for the Detroit Red Wings, so we’ll break them down one at a time.
TOMAS JURCO
It looks like the Red Wings log jam at the forward position may receive a bit of relief to start the season, but unfortunately that relief is a result of the injury bug. Forward Tomas Jurco, who underwent back surgery in August, was originally slated to miss four to six weeks as a result of the surgery, is unlikely to play until November.
Blashill said #RedWings Tomas Jurco (back surgery) probably won't be ready to play until November.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) September 22, 2016
Jurco, who played in 44 games with the Red Wings last season, scored four goals and chipped in two assists as well.
HENRIK ZETTERBERG
Captain Henrik Zetterberg, who missed the World Cup of Hockey while nursing a knee injury, will not be taking part in any practices or scrimmages for the time being. He will be skating on his own, however.
#RedWings Zetterberg (knee) will be skating on his own in camp, not taking part in practices or scrimmages, Blashill said.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) September 22, 2016
Zetterberg, who played in all 82 games last season, finished the year with 13 goals and 37 assists.
OTHERS
Defenseman Niklas Kronwall, who is also nursing a knee injury, will take a route similar to Zetterberg’s. Kronwall scored three goals last season, while also contributing 23 assists in 64 games.
Forward Teemu Pulkkinen, who underwent shoulder surgery in July, has not been cleared for contact at training camp yet. Pulkkinen, a promising youngster who boasts a booming slap shot, is still looking to carve out his niche in the NHL. He scored 34 goals in 46 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2014-15, but has only found the back of the net 11 times in 70 career NHL games.
Restricted free agent defenseman Ryan Sproul, 23, is expected to sign a new contract with the team by tomorrow as the team considers different options regarding the term of a new pact. Sproul has only played in one career game with the Red Wings, but boasts a right handed shot from the blue line, and the team is high on his offensive ability from the back end. In 213 career games with the Griffins, Sproul has scored 28 goals and 63 assists.
