Red Wings’ Berenter discusses DeKeyser’s recovery from back surgery

DetroitRedWings.com’s Josh Berenter posted an article discussing defenseman Danny DeKeyser’s career and 2019-2020 season “By the Numbers,” and, in this instance, the numbers are less important than the context which Bereneter provides regarding DeKeyser’s recovery from significant back surgery:

[Starting] in 2018, the injury bug set its sights on the 6-foot-3, 190-pound defenseman. On December 4, 2018, DeKeyser suffered a hand injury that sidelined him for six weeks, and this past season, on October 22, DeKeyser injured his back which eventually led to season-ending surgery in December, limiting him to just eight games in 2019-20.

Before his back injury, DeKeyser was the No. 1 defenseman for the Red Wings. He was playing on the club’s top defensive pairing with Filip Hronek and was facing the opponents’ top lines.

“When he’s healthy, he’s our top defenseman and I think he’s one of the most underrated defenders in the league,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “He obviously has a huge impact on our team.”

With the time off during rehab added to an extended offseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be the longest DeKeyser has ever gone in his career without seeing game action. The defenseman said he’s feeling better, though, and is ready to get back with his teammates as soon as possible.

“I’m feeling a lot better, which is good. It took me a little bit to kind of feel better again but I’ve finally gotten over that hump, I think,” DeKeyser said. “Definitely doing a lot better and I’m looking forward to skating, hopefully soon, when we get back on the ice. This year, I’m hoping to stay healthy and have a good year.”

Continued; it will be interesting to see what DeKeyser can bring to the table when he’s fully healthy.