No one ever indicated worry that Bertuzzi would miss the season opener next Thursday. But back injuries can be fickle things.
"I think I got a little bit sore over camp after Day 3 or 4," Bertuzzi said, "and it was kinda easing my way back into it and didn't wanna rush anything, really. I'm looking forward to playing tonight."
That soreness was not unexpected. It's not just the surgery, Bertuzzi explained, but all the muscles around the back that were working harder to compensate for the back. That, on top of spending six or seven months away from the ice. Even throughout the year, he would be foolish not to expect some soreness.
"But eventually, it'll be back to where it was," Bertuzzi said.
The Red Wings have had some recent experience in seeing a player return from major back surgery with Danny DeKeyser. As time went by, the difference in his play was notable. "It was pretty much kinda the same surgery," Bertuzzi said, and they see each other doing the same stretches in the gym now.
"Danny, his strength in his legs was affected more than Tyler's is," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "So Danny didn't have as much to do with rust as it had to do with really strength and power in his legs. And he took the time once we sat him back out to build that back up and he's worked hard at it and he's closer to where he used to be. I don't think Bert's had nearly the same effect from it."
