After dominating the American Hockey League while on a conditioning assignment, forward Tomas Jurco will return to the Detroit Red Wings’ lineup for Sunday afternoon’s game at Joe Louis Arena against the Florida Panthers.
“Our plan is to play him,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “We’ll make the final lineup decision tomorrow.
“We’re recalling him with the thought we’re going to play him.…
Grand Rapids won all five games Jurco appeared in while on his conditioning assignment. Jurco was named the AHL’s player of the week Nov. 23 after picking up a league-best seven points (3-4-7) over his first three games with the team, including a four-point performance (3-1-4) Nov. 20 versus San Diego.
The 22-year-old forward is tied for third on the Griffins in scoring despite playing in just five of the team’s 16 games.
“If he plays to his capabilities – I mean he’s done things in the American League at a young age,… Blashill said. “I think it’s important to remember how young he is. He’s done things in that league at a young age that not many guys do. His points per game in his second year, his points per game since he went back down, were really good.…
In his last 37 AHL games Jurco has produced 41 points, an average of 1.108 points per game.
“Now he’s got to transfer that to the NHL,… Blashill said. “But I think if you look statistically, most guys do. So he’s got to find a way to do it. If he does it gives us another great asset.…
Blashill liked the approach Jurco took during his minor-league assignment.
“He went down and did what we asked him to do,… Blashill said. “He went down and was great from all accounts. We wanted him to gain some confidence. We think obviously playing the way he’s played down there, he should come back with lots of confidence.…
Blashill was equally straightforward about what he requires to see from Jurco to earn the forward a regular place in his lineup.
“He’s got to play the right way,… Blashill said. “He’s got to skate, be in on the forecheck, and be a big body in front of the net. He’s got to have confidence and poise and make plays and ultimately shoot the puck in the net the way I’ve seen him shoot in the net and the way he’s done it in Grand Rapids.
“I know he can score at this level if he gets the opportunities. He’s got to go get those opportunities.…
Whether Jurco is skating on a scoring or checking line, those requirements don’t change.
“I’d say really what he needs to do to be successful is regardless of the line, he needs to skate, be on the forecheck, be physical, provide energy for any line that he’s on,… Blashill said. “Do a real good job being a net presence guy. Make plays in the offensive zone and track really hard.
“He’s got the capability of doing all those things and that will help him whether he’s in a top nine role or in a fourth line type role. I think being good defensively is a pre-req to playing. You don’t get a chance to play if you’re not, so it doesn’t matter which line you’re on.
“You’ll obviously have a chance to produce more if you’re in a top nine role and given opportunities. I just think he has to do those other things. He needs to do a real good job of skating, providing energy, being physical, getting stick on puck, creating turnovers and being a big body in front of the net.…
While the coach wouldn’t say who was likely to come out to make room for Jurco, do the analysis and the No. 1 candidate seems to be Teemu Pulkkinen.
It makes no sense to slot Jurco in on the fourth line after he’s delivered sensational offensive numbers in GR. Besides, the unit of Luke Glendening, Drew Miller and Darren Helm have played very well of late and all three are vital penalty killers.
“They're going to be a quantity type line where ultimately with a lot of quantity will come their goals and production but I just think through their energy, through their forecheck, through their O-zone play, they'll get their chances and Helm's speed alone gets himself chances,… Blashill said. “They've been a good line for us, they've given us a four-line team.…
The unit of Riley Sheahan, Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist was Detroit’s best in Friday’s win over Edmonton and they aren’t about to scratch anyone from the Henrik Zetterberg-Dylan Larkin-Justin Abdelkader line.
It appears logical to install Jurco alongside Pavel Datsyuk and Brad Richards, two elite playmakers who might just provide the elixir necessary for Jurco to discover his goal-scoring touch at the NHL level.
Blashill admitted that they haven’t seen enough from Pulkkinen of late.
“Pulkky’s done a pretty good job,… Blashill said. “He still has to get better in lots of areas.
“We talked about maturation. That’s maturation as an individual, maturing as a player. He still has to evolve in terms of his play.
“We think there’s still more there, both in the line and from him. But we’ll continue to work on that.…
Kindl Back Jurco won’t be the only lineup change Sunday. Jakub Kindl will return to the Detroit defense after four straight games as a healthy scratch.
“Right now we’re going to have him back in tomorrow,… Blashill said. “That’s something we’ve been working towards here in the last week.
“Kindl’s actually done a good job. I think we have seven D that are good, so whomever we take out it’s not because they’ve played bad, it’s because you can’t play seven.
“We’ll make the final decision who comes out tomorrow.…
Kindl didn’t plan to do anything differently as he returns to action.
“It’s nothing new to me,… Kindl said of sitting out. “I’m going to try to play exactly the way I did before I wasn’t playing, so I’m not going to change anything.…
Petr Mrazek gets the start in goal Sunday.
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