DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji filed a locker room clean-out day article regarding Danny DeKeyser, who missed 17 games with a fractured ankle in October and November. DeKeyser feels that he played solidly this past season:
In the end, DeKeyser finished with six goals, six assists and was plus-2, one of five plus players on the team.
“I definitely felt a lot better in the second half,” DeKeyser said. “I felt I was playing a lot better, being more active, skating better and moving better out there. I thought it took me a little bit to get going after that injury. Once I got going, once I got my feet under me, I thought I was a lot better.”
DeKeyser, who turned 28 last month, is a lean 6-foot-3, 192 pounds. When he first came to the Wings, they wanted him to gain some weight. But now, DeKeyser isn’t focused on gaining weight.
“I’m pretty comfortable with where I’m at,” he said. “For me it’s mostly strength-wise. Just being strong, games when I’m out there and I’m feeling strong, that’s when I have my best games. Just taking care of my body over the course of the season. Not so much about weight. More concerned with strength.”
Wakiji continues, speaking with DeKeyser regarding the possibility of playing in the World Championship and addressing the Wings’ youth movement…
And I would argue that DeKeyser still needs to work on his strength, especially his core strength and upper-leg strength.