Danny DeKeyser talks Red Wings Youth Camp, 2015-16 season

 

By @StefanKubus –

“It’s a good change, and it feels good.”

For the first time since joining the Red Wings, Danny DeKeyser was on the ice Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena for the Red Wings Youth Camp without his signature slicked-back mane of hair, and that’s how he described his new, shortly-trimmed look.

It’s also an accurate statement to summarize Detroit’s busy offseason with the additions of free agents Mike Green and Brad Richards, while also seeing Mike Babcock depart for Toronto and Jeff Blashill step in as new head coach.

With a new haircut comes a new season, new changes and higher expectations that the 25-year-old Macomb native is setting for himself, but Wednesday afternoon, DeKeyser took some time out of his day for a lighter event: to teach the aspiring youth hockey players a thing or two.

“It’s been a good camp,” DeKeyser said. “I think all the kids are having fun out there, been putting them through some drills and trying to give them some teaching points here and there if I can help them out, so it’s been fun for me.

His ultimate piece of advice for the youth hockey player?

“Usually I just tell them to have fun, because if you’re having fun, that takes you pretty far. Some of the other stuff will come after that, but as long as you’re having fun out there with your buddies and stuff, I think that’s step one.”

In his own game, DeKeyser hopes to take the next step in 2015-16 to become a more integral part of the Red Wings’ defensive corps.

“I just want to take another step and try to lead a little bit more on the back end, obviously we have some great leaders in the room, and just be solid all around and play my game.”

With the NHL season just two months away, DeKeyser is expected to be paired with the newcomer Green, a 29-year-old offensive defenseman who came over from Washington after ten years in the organization. DeKeyser, just wrapped up his second full NHL season and is still exploring the offensive side of his game, said he can learn a lot from had a veteran like Green, who once recorded 31 goals and 73 points in 68 games in 2008.

“I think he’s a great player, he’s got a great shot from the point, he moves the puck out of the D-zone fast and he can skate really well,” DeKeyser said.

“I think the past few years, the back end, we’ve wanted to contribute a little more than we have. Obviously, Kronwall has been the leader there with that, but bringing another guy in like Green, who will bring some offense, will definitely help us out a ton.”

Mike Babcock, who was always a DeKeyser supporter, departed Detroit in the offseason to take the reigns of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but DeKeyser said it was just a choice he had to make for himself.

Now, DeKeyser will be playing for Sault Ste. Marie native and former Grand Rapids Griffins coach Jeff Blashill.

“A lot of guys in the room have already played with him in Grand Rapids,” DeKeyser said. “He’s a really good coach, and he demands a lot from his players. I think he pushes everyone to be the best that they can be, so I think it’s really good. He’s really open-minded about things, too, so easy to talk to. He’s a good coach. He knows his stuff.”

Though even with all this change in the air, it’s not all different for DeKeyser.

In Blashill’s lone season coaching Western Michigan, he had DeKeyser as a freshman on his blue line.

“When he coached me in college, I saw a lot of things, some good qualities in him. When he’s on the ice, he makes sure everyone knows what they’re doing. There was no, ‘What’s going on? What are we doing in this situation?’ or anything like that, so he made sure we were prepared for the game and every situation, special teams, 6-on-5 and that kind of stuff.”

That familiarity should help ease the transition into the Blashill regime and help keep the Red Wings fortified in season one.