Kronwall was unable to play for Team Sweden at the World Cup of Hockey 2016. He had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Jan. 18 and missed 15 NHL games, and sat out three games in March because of a sprained right knee.
"I'm very disappointed that I'm not farther down the road than I am right now," Kronwall said. "I would have hoped obviously with a few months at home, I would have been a little farther down the road. But in saying that, the biggest thing I was feeling pretty good until I hit the ice again. So right now, it's just about getting the feel on the ice and then go from there."
Kronwall, 35, had three goals, 23 assists and a minus-21 rating in 64 games last season, his 12th with Detroit. The Red Wings open camp in Traverse City, Michigan, on Friday and open the NHL season Oct. 13 at the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"Once he pulled out of the World Cup, our goal wasn't necessarily to have him ready for Day One of training camp," coach Jeff Blashill said. "Our goal was to have Nik Kronwall ready to play and be a big impact in our first game. It takes buildup to get there, but you don't necessarily need all two-and-a-half weeks to get there. I know [he] is doing everything he can to put himself in position to feel as good as he can, and we're just going to have to manage it as we get into the year."
Forward Teemu Pulkkinen, who had surgery on his left shoulder June 6, said he would participate in camp. He also dislocated his right shoulder on Dec. 3. The 24-year-old had six goals and six assists in 36 games last season, his third with Detroit.
"I'm feeling good, feeling pretty good," Pulkkinen said. "I'm going to get full contact in Traverse City on Friday, so I'm hoping to maybe play one or two exhibition games, but we'll see how it feels."
