Pre-Camp Press Conference
The Detroit Red Wings held a brief press conference before training camp begins on Thursday. General Manager Steve Yzerman addressed multiple topics including the recent prospect’s tournament and Paid Try Outs for the upcoming pre season.
The summer was fairly quiet for Detroit, so the broadcast was brief. Yzerman discussed pressures regarding the post season as well as internal expectations. The emphasis for internal improvements seemed to be a recurring theme throughout the discussions.
Simon Edvinsson and Carter Bear
One of the bigger revelations was that Simon Edvinsson will not be participating on ice during camp. The big defenseman has been rehabilitating an injury all summer. The club does expect to have him ready to start the season. Edvinsson ranked second in points on the blue line, and is entering a contract year.
Carter Bear, however, has been cleared to take part in all activities. Bear’s absence from the prospect tournament was merely precautionary. Detroit’s first round pick hadn’t competed in a game since March, and has been recovering. The coaching staff wanted to hold off on full contact until after some high intensity practices.
Pro Try Outs and Internal Competition
Yzerman revealed that as of today, there are no PTO’s that will be attending camp. The club made a few offers but no players have accepted at this point. There is still the possibility that someone could attend, but there is no one so far.
The greatest emphasis was on growth within the system. Yzerman stated that if a player improves the team, that player will take a spot. This was a reference to young prospects like Nate Danielson and Shai Buium who will are slated to start the season in Grand Rapids. The opportunity has never been greater for players to advance in the system, and training camp should see an intense competition for those spots.
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