Detroit Red Wings

Injured Bertuzzi Close to Return; Edvinsson Will Play Often in Preseason

Published

2 years ago

September 24, 2022

Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said Tyler Bertuzzi remains day-to-day with an undislcosed ailment. However, he is close to returning to practice.

“Do not expect it to be very long,” Lalonde said. “We could even possibly see (Bertuzzi) tomorrow. If not. I think shortly afterwards.”

The Red Wings’ Red and White intrasquad game is scheduled for tomorrow at noon at Molon Rink in Traverse City.

Oskar Sundqvist is also day-to-day. “Probably not as quick seeing him as we are Tyler,” Lalonde said. “But again, I don’t expect it to be very long.”

For what it's worth, Tyler Bertuzzi watched today's video session in a sweatshirt and shorts. With Walman and Copp.

— George Malik (@georgemalik) September 24, 2022

The Detroit team leaves its Traverse City stay after practices Monday. The Red Wings’ first preseason game on Tuesday is a road contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their first Red Wings preseason home game is Wednesday against Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena.

Eight Preseason Games

The Red Wings will play eight preseason games before the Oct. 14 opener against Montreal. Lalonde said Saturday he will use those games to give prize rookie Simon Edvinsson plenty of opportunity against what will be makeshift NHL lineups.

“We plan on playing him a lot, maybe even more than that projected four or five (games),” Lalonde said. “We’ll see how camp goes. Even the three rookie games were very important. We want to give him a ton of looks. The biggest thing for him is (get) hard practice reps. I think he’s had a few of those. He has handled them well. He has been exposed a couple of times. (That’s) understandble.”

Lalonde made it clear that Edvinsson doesn’t have any guarantees of making the team. And Edvinsson knows that. He said Thursday it would be “understandable” if the team is handing him an assignment to Grand Rapids.

“The beauty is if he’s playing with us on opening night, we’d be very excited,” Lalonde said. “(But) I think we’d also be very content if he’s not playing with us and in Grand Rapids on opening night.”

Lalonde said the Red Wings will communicate that to Edvinsson.

“Like every young man, they want to make this team out of every camp,” Lalonde said. “But we’ll temper his expectations and we’ll manage that going forward.”