Bobby Ryan is excited to join the Red Wings lineup

Ted Kulfan

| The Detroit News

Touch

Detroit – One thing, for sure, striker Bobby Ryan noticed while watching Thursday’s Red Wings game above the ice level.

It’s certainly easier up there.

“When I came home last night, I was thinking about it,” said Ryan after Friday’s practice. Ryan lost the game due to an undisclosed injury. “I would be the league’s MVP if I could play all the games there.

“The things you think you are seeing are not exactly there in the eyes of the players.”

Ryan will probably have his first chance to see these things on the ice on Saturday, with the Red Wings again hosting Carolina (19h / FSD / 97.1 FM).

Ryan went through training on Friday, felt good and looks ready to make his Wings debut after missing five days of training and friendly matches

“I feel great, happy with how I responded to my injury,” said Ryan. “All good news, I hope to join the boys. I am very happy with any role they assign me. “

Ryan has been training in line with Robby Fabbri and Filip Zadina, but it is unclear whether coach Jeff Blashill will return to that immediately.

For now, Blashill is hopeful that Ryan’s return could unleash a powerful Wings game that didn’t seem so powerful on Thursday against hurricanes.

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“Our strength game needed to be better and this is an area where we feel that it can really help,” said Blashill. “We are going to locate him five against five, hopefully that can lead to putting his legs under him and when he starts, he is a guy that I hope can give us a few more points. We feel that he is in a good position to help us. “

Ryan was on a power-play drive with Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi and Danny DeKeyser during training on Thursday.

Playing in the front position of the net, Ryan feels that he can put clubs on the discs and create confusion around the Hurricane net.

“We gathered representatives at the camp and then I missed the friendly matches where you get real representatives,” said Ryan. “It makes it a little more difficult to slide in. I can help you with the tickets, we weren’t really there (Thursday), but we were better at it this morning.

“If Bert and I continue to be the guys at the front of the net, and Bert is going to put his dick in almost everything that comes, it can (create confusion) and then we can let the guys of skill do what they do outside . “

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Ryan is also looking forward to wearing the Wings jersey for the first time.

Ryan talked about any player’s nervous energy about playing on a new team and mentioned a conversation he had with new teammate Vladislav Namestnikov about Thursday’s game.

“He said he hasn’t remembered being so nervous in a while,” said Ryan. “I haven’t forgotten that I’m starting to wear an Original Six shirt, so there’s a lot of history there and you want to do it right.

“I’m excited to put it on.”

Ice Chips

Strikers Givani Smith and Michael Rasmussen, defenders Dennis Cholowski and Gusatv Lindstrom and goalkeepers Calvin Pickard and Kevin Boyle make up the Wings taxi team, awaiting the chance to play if necessary, given the unpredictability of operating a sports team during a pandemic. .

The taxi team trains daily with the Wings – and often has a second session with coach Brandon Naurato – to stay sharp.

Blashill sees this as an opportunity for young players to improve and hone their skills.

“It’s a combination of being mentally and physically ready to go into a game when needed, and continuing to improve (and extend) the training ground in terms of grinding those guys to be better,” said Blashill.

There is a good chance that some of the taxi players will end up in Grand Rapids when the American League season begins and play a few games there. But until then, it’s a good opportunity to work hard to get to the NHL.

“It is not easy,” said Blashill, noting that it is also not easy to reach the NHL. “We have young people who want to be in the NHL. They have to strive, and strive, to improve. For me, it is a great opportunity to help them improve and put them in a position where they can help us ”.

… The Wings home game on February 21 against the Panthers was postponed to 5 pm on Saturday, February 20. In addition, the direct confrontation on Friday, February 19 at home against Florida was from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Hurricanes in Red Wings

Conflict: Saturday 7, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

TV / radio: FSD / 97.1

Outlook: Carolina (1-0-0) closed the Wings on Thursday 3-0. … Former Wings G Petr Mrazek stopped all 14 shots he faced while hurricanes dominated defensively. … This will be the second in a “series” of two games, which will be common on this season’s NHL calendar. Columbus goes to Little Caesars Arena for Monday and Tuesday games.

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Twitter: @tkulfan

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