DeKeyser: “Today just kind of makes me realize how lucky I am”
By @MichaelCaples –
Danny DeKeyser said that today is one of those days where he’s reminded of how lucky he is.
The 26-year-old native of Clay Township, Mich., just signed a new six-year contract with his hometown Red Wings – keeping DeKeyser with his childhood favorite team for a very long time.
With DeKeyser’s new contract, the Red Wings will have at least five Michigan natives on the roster when the puck drops for the 2016-17 season. DeKeyser, a product of Western Michigan University, said it’s special for him and the rest of the Michigan contingent – Dylan Larkin, Justin Abdelkader, Drew Miller and Luke Glendening – to be representing the Winged Wheel together.
“We got Larks here last year, and Abby, Milsy, Glenny, and a few other guys as well – anybody who is from Michigan I’m sure has grown up a big Red Wings fan just like myself,” DeKeyser told MiHockey during a media conference call Tuesday morning. “It’s been great for me to play here. When you grow up as a fan rooting for the team, I don’t know, I guess you kind of have to figure things out for yourself when you first step on the ice about actually being a part of that team. Sometimes I kind of catch myself, every now and then, not really taking things for granted but not really realizing how special it is to be able to play for your hometown and your home state. Today just kind of makes me realize how lucky I am and how special of an opportunity I have to play here.”
MORE: Red Wings, Danny DeKeyser agree to new six-year deal
The 26-year-old defenseman – originally signed as a free agent by Detroit after his junior season with the Broncos in 2013 – said it was a relief to ink a new long-term contract.
“It’s a big deal for me and for my family just to be able to get some stability here and be playing in Detroit for the next six years at least,” DeKeyser said. “It’s just a place where I like to play. My family is here, and I don’t want to go anywhere else. I was pretty happy that we were able to work with Kenny and get a deal done. I’m just excited about it.”
The smooth-skating defenseman and the Red Wings were heading towards player-elected arbitration, which was scheduled for Thursday (July 28). However, DeKeyser said he started to have a feeling last week that the two parties could agree to a deal without needing arbitration.
“It was kind of up in the air for a little bit,” DeKeyser said. “I would say really the last week or so, I kind of figured out it wasn’t going to be going to arbitration. As time was winding down towards that, I wasn’t too concerned about it actually going there.”
Petr Mrazek and the Wings still appear to be headed towards arbitration – the Wings’ netminder and DeKeyser were the two highlighted restricted free-agent priorities for Detroit general manager Ken Holland this offseason.
Holland and DeKeyser don’t need to worry about that anymore. The Wings have secured their top defensive defenseman for the foreseeable future. As he enters the prime of his career, DeKeyser wants to keep doing what made him a sought-after free agent out of college and successful NHL defenseman – keep things simple.
“It’s just improving year in and year out and being a steady defenseman. Basically my game, I just try to move the puck well, play solid defensively, chip in some points or goals here or there when I can, and just try to be a good team player and do things that help the team win.”