#LGRW Daily: Red Wings build chemistry as training camp begins

DETROIT - During Bobby Ryan's first week in Michigan, he was planning a solo golf getaway at Arcadia Bluffs and he called Dylan Larkin to ask about things to do in the area.

Larkin saw an opportunity for Ryan--who the Red Wings signed on October 9--to get to know his new teammates and form a bond going into training camp, so 20 minutes after the initial conversation, Larkin rounded up Tyler Bertuzzi and Robby Fabbri and told Ryan that his solo trip had turned into a foursome.
"It's been great. I was here for three or four days and I had booked a round at Arcadia Bluffs for myself. I was going to drive up and play it and drive back, and he called me back within 20 minutes and said 'OK, Bert and Fabbs and I are coming,'" Ryan said during the first day of training camp on Friday. "So we made a golf trip out of that.
"Those are little things that add up, and Larks didn't have to do that. I was just asking about what was up in that area. He came back and said, 'I'm taking you.'"

The Wings kicked off training camp at Little Caesars Arena on Friday with eight players that weren't part of the organization last season, and with only 13 days until the first game of the 2021 season, building chemistry is extremely important.
Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said it's been a tough balance trying to get his new players ingratiated to the team while maintaining social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"That's a difficult thing. We've talked a lot about balancing trying to be as safe as we can with trying to create camaraderie, and that's not an easy balance," Blashill said. "The fact that Bobby chose to come up here early will help him gel with his teammates quickly. And I think that's a real positive thing.

"The fact that those guys were able to do things like go golfing outside where it's safer and do those types of things before our season got started means there can be chemistry and just friendships and the type of camaraderie you need out of teammates. I think that's great, and big props to Bobby for making a commitment to come here early."
Blashill said he wasn't at all surprised to hear about Larkin going out of his way to make sure his new teammates feel comfortable.
"Dylan's a great person. He's got great attributes that the winners always have," Blashill said. "He's highly competitive every day. He works extraordinarily hard. He's got that inner drive that it takes to be elite. And he's just a really, really good person. So it doesn't surprise me that Bobby would say good things about Larks because that's who Larks is, and I think Bobby would appreciate Larks' approach and the type of person Larks is."

With his newfound friendships, Ryan said he already feels at home in the Red Wings' dressing room on day one of training camp. The 33-year-old said he appreciates the youthful energy on and off the ice, which allows him to stay loose as he gets to know the Wings' systems.
"I've gotten to be around the guys a lot," Ryan said. "They're young and refreshing, and it's a very light locker room which works well for me. I think I fit in well."
The Red Wings continue training camp this weekend as they prepare for the season opener on January 14 against the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena. The club will have three scrimmages, beginning Tuesday, January 5, and will wrap up camp on Monday, January 11. All scrimmages will be livestreamed on DetroitRedWings.com.