Familiar faces impressing through early days of training camp

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Last September, Jakub Vrana suffered a shoulder injury upon touching down in Traverse City for training camp and was sidelined for six months before returning to the ice in the 2021-22 season.

Now one year later, the Detroit Red Wings forward is happy that's all in the past.
"I know my shoulder is fixed," Vrana said. "I feel strong and good. It's a fresh beginning, as is every year and season, and it's a fresh start for all of us here. I'm just looking forward to getting things going."

First-year coach Derek Lalonde, who led the Red Wings through the second day of camp at Centre ICE Arena on Friday, said that Vrana stood out.
"He's impressive with the puck," Lalonde said. "Sometimes, you know guys are skilled guys and you have an appreciation that they're skilled. But until you're actually with them and on the ice, you don't get a true appreciation of how skilled."
Lalonde also preached why a healthy Vrana is important for Detroit in the 2022-23 campaign.
"Offense is tough to come by," Lalonde said. "You need some of those offensive playmakers. I came from a team where it did not take much for us to create offense. It just helps the guys, those elite finishers. You need them."

Lalonde is also pleased with the development of Michael Rasmussen, who recorded career-highs in games played (80), goals (15), assists (12) and points (27) last season.
"He had some confidence from his finish last year," Lalonde said. "Probably rolled over into his summer and into camp here. Obviously, it is disappointing to lose (Andrew) Copp for the first part of camp, but it gave him (Rasmussen) some reps at center."
When asked how he will utilize Rasmussen this season, Lalonde said the former 2017 first-round pick will likely get some time at multiple positions.

"I think we would like to see him at center," Lalonde said. "That big body, obviously being able to defend with that size down low and get some defensive stops. He also has had some success at wing, so we have a little bit more luxury of some depth this year."
According to Rasmussen, Lalonde and the coaching staff have told him to lean on his strengths.

"I took a lot of strides last year and positives," Rasmussen said. "I'll keep using my size, my skating, being good defensively, taking pucks to the net, being around the net, recovering pucks and forechecking well."
The Red Wings continue training camp through Monday before beginning their eight-game 2022-23 preseason schedule against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena next Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Bertuzzi considered day-to-day

Lalonde said forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who did not practice on Friday, is considered day-to-day. "I was told an hour before practice that he was unavailable and that something flared up," Lalonde said. "Not probably anything too concerning."

Last season, Bertuzzi recorded his first-career 30-goal campaign while setting new career-highs in assists (32) and points (62) in 68 games.