DetroitRedWings.com’s Ethan Sears offers 5 stories to watch over the course of training camp (and, to some extent, the exhibition season):
What does the top line look like playing together?
By the time the Red Wings made a blockbuster deal for Jakub Vrana late last season, Tyler Bertuzzi‘s year had long since ended with back surgery after playing nine games. And, just three games into Vrana’s time with the Red Wings, center Dylan Larkin suffered a season-ending neck injury on a cross-check.
That did little to slow down Vrana, who totaled 11 points in as many games with the Red Wings after being traded from the Capitals in April. But it does leave open the question of what the Red Wings’ anticipated top line – Vrana, Larkin and Bertuzzi – will look like when they finally take the ice together. Training camp could provide an early glimpse of what to expect, provided a visa issue keeping Vrana from joining the team on day one in Traverse City sorts itself out.
On the surface, the group looks like it could make a big impact. Vrana has averaged over two points per 60 minutes in each of the last three seasons, and adapted quickly to Detroit last season, scoring 2.5 goals per 60 minutes in career-high time on ice after moving over. Bertuzzi, in his last two seasons prior to getting hurt, had approached the 50-point mark, likely only falling short of the milestone in 2020 because of the pandemic-induced season cancellation.
As for Larkin, the Red Wings’ captain finished last season with nine goals and 14 assists over 44 games. Over a full, 82-game season, he has a proven track record of being able to notch upwards of 30 assists with scoring ability to boot. After a 2020-21 season in which the Red Wings at times struggled to score the puck, this top line will look to reverse the trend.
