Yzerman amped for NHL restart

DETROIT -- When the Detroit Red Wings found out that their 2019-20 campaign had ended prematurely, resulting in a several-month layoff, Steve Yzerman candidly said he was going to find out which of his guys really wanted to be hockey players.

Now that the NHL has announced the Red Wings' season will begin on January 14, Detroit's executive vice president and general manager is excited to finally see that prophecy come to fruition.
"I expect them to be energetic and enthusiastic. I'm expecting them all to be in excellent physical condition," Yzerman said. "I'm excited to see the team. I can't really predict what we're going to be. Obviously, I hope we're improved from last year. I believe we'll be improved. How much? I don't know. I'm just anxious to get going."
The NHL and NHL Players' Association announced the official start date of the 56-game season this past Sunday, along with realigned divisions and lineup constrictions.
The Red Wings will move from the Atlantic Division to the Central Division this season, playing only intra-division regular season games against the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Yzerman said he's eager to once again be in the same division as the Original Six-rival Blackhawks.
"Being in a division with Chicago - great city - we've had a great rivalry," said Yzerman, who played 134 games against the Blackhawks-more than any other opponent in his 22-year playing career. "The games are good. They're very lively and entertaining games. The Original Six matchups are great and we're happy to be in the same division with them."
The NHL's announcement also included that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will be allowed to have a traveling taxi squad, consisting of an extra four to six players per team.
The taxi squad must include at least one goaltender if teams don't carry three goalies on their roster, and Yzerman said the extra buffer will be a good way to ensure stability and keep young players in the mix.
"Guys are going to get injured, cross our fingers - you hope nobody contracts the virus and can't play," Yzerman said. "But at certain points, guys get called up. Instead of getting called up from Grand Rapids, some are going to get called up from the taxi squad. How much, or when - that's the unpredictable part.
"So, the taxi squad is just an extra layer to facilitate adding players to your lineup. So you keep them close by and they're ready to be recalled for whatever reason."
With the NHL packing a 56-game schedule into a 16-week regular season that ends May 8, Yzerman said the Red Wings will be extremely busy out of the gate and they'll have several daunting stretches throughout the campaign.

"It will be interesting to see who plays with whom and how we do. Right off the bat, we're going to play a lot of hockey games," said Yzerman, noting that to minimize travel, teams will play two-game, four-game and six-game road trips throughout the year. "I expect the players to be in top physical condition, the best condition you can be in (when) not playing games. I'm excited, and I don't really know what to predict for us."
The first order of business for the Red Wings is reporting to Training Camp as early as New Year's Eve. The Red Wings usually hold camp in Traverse City, but because of the pandemic, Training Camp will be held at Little Caesars Arena this season as Detroit prepares for this unusual campaign.
"In regards to Training Camp, we'll have 12 days on the ice, probably. No preseason games," Yzerman said. "It's hard for the young guys, guys that are trying to make the roster, trying to make a really good impression. All they can do is show up in shape and practice well."
Because of the extended layoff, Yzerman reiterated that there's no excuse for players to come into Training Camp out of shape.
"In the summertime, throughout the summer, throughout the fall, you could find a lot of reasons why you couldn't skate, why you couldn't go to the gym," said Yzerman, whose team will have gone more than 300 days without playing an NHL game when this season begins. "For these guys - they can make an excuse - I don't have access to a strength coach, or I don't have access to ice - my point was, find a way, and we'll help you find a way.
"Ultimately, the players have to have the drive and the determination and the will to do it. We'll find out in 10 days when our players show up at camp. I'm expecting them to be in tip-top condition, and I'm pretty certain of that."
And when the Red Wings take the ice, they'll do so with a largely rebuilt roster. With all the moves made this offseason, only 11 players from the 2019 opening night roster return to the Wings' lineup this season.
Yzerman said he's looking forward to the challenge of getting the new players acclimated and hopes they produce a renewed energy in the dressing room this year.
"We've made several changes, and all the players were very enthusiastic when we talked to them, prior to signing with the team," Yzerman said. "That was very encouraging to me. I think there will be a lot of renewed enthusiasm. We've got some different personalities. I look forward to really getting to know them. So, I'm excited to spend some time with them all, get to know them as we continue to remake and rebuild our team here."