Training camp notebook: Seider impressing early on

As the Detroit Red Wings wrapped up the first day of training camp on Thursday afternoon, Dylan Larkin was asked about Moritz Seider.
Prior to Thursday, when they practiced in the same group, much of Larkin's experience with Seider came during informal skates over the summer or off the ice. That didn't stop the Red Wings' captain from sharing just how impressed he was with the defenseman.

"He's a special player," Larkin said. "You see with him, Lucas Raymond as well. They're smart players, they're smart guys. They work extremely hard. You see those high-end skill guys, they play pro, they understand the game, so watching them skate with NHL players, they seem to fit right in and it's great to see."
Seider, the Red Wings' first-round pick in 2019, comes into camp with excitement swirling around him. Though he's yet to make his NHL debut, the German put together an impressive season in Sweden last year, and is widely projected to make Detroit's roster out of camp.
Though it's just one day of camp - meaning next to nothing in the long run - Seider playing opposite Nick Leddy on Thursday, making up what could ostensibly be a top defensive pairing should expectations be blown out of the water, will do little to slow down the excitement.
"I think (Leddy) can bring some of that wisdom not just to Seider but to other guys on our team," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "They've introduced some young defensemen there over the last couple of years in New York and I think Leds has seen those guys develop, so I think he can impart some of that wisdom to Seids as well. ... That's the pairing we had today and we'll see what tomorrow brings but we think it was potentially a good pairing."

Michael Rasmusen said that Seider, who is listed at 6-foot-4, 197 pounds, has gotten noticeably stronger since they last played together in Grand Rapids.
"It just seems like he's gotten better every time he's got on the ice," Rasmussen said. "Obviously he had a good year overseas there and he's just improved a lot over the summer."
Added Blashill: "He's big, he's smart, he's got confidence, he's got some toughness to him. He can play in a lot of situations. So I think he's got that opportunity to be a really good player, we're gonna give him the opportunity to do that and then he can grab it by the horn."

Rasmussen finding consistency with experience

When Michael Rasmussen was first called up to the NHL, three seasons ago at age 19, it came with some struggles that most young players face. A former top-10 pick, Rasmussen played 62 games and tallied 18 points. The next season, he was back in the minors, then on loan in Austria in 2020 while waiting for North American play to start back up again.
Once it did, he emerged with more production, more perspective. Rasmussen played 40 games with the Red Wings last season and began to erase some of the question marks surrounding him. It felt something like a turning point.
Now, there's not a question now as to whether he'll be on the Red Wings' Opening Night roster, but of how much he can do while wearing the Winged Wheel.
"I think it's just overall, myself, understanding that I can play here and really help the team and contribute," Rasmussen said. "A lot of people have my back and (are) helping me out. I think it's maybe a combination of those."
That led to Rasmussen, age 22, being asked how he's changed over the years and answering, "I think a lot, obviously."
The biggest adjustment, he said, has come in his mentality.
"Just being ready to go every day," Rasmussen said. "Practice, games, in the gym, I can't really say that enough to be honest. You gotta be ready every day. Whether you're not feeling right one day or the next day, you just gotta dig in, find a way to contribute and help the team.
"Find something in the game that you can do positively and do to help the team. Just consistency."

Larkin and Bertuzzi nearing full recoveries

Dylan Larkin said that he feels "great" after the first day of camp and hasn't had trouble with the neck injury that ended last season for him. Though he's not yet playing with full contact, Larkin said that's due to caution, as taking hits early in training camp isn't particularly necessary.
"I want to go into the season healthy like I am now," Larkin said. "I don't want to have anything nagging. I don't want to have to deal with it. I want to make sure I'm ready."
Winger Tyler Bertuzzi said he feels about 95 percent in his own injury recovery, and expects to be bumped and hit throughout camp.
As for Jakub Vrana, Blashill said that the team is hoping to have him on a flight to the U.S. on Friday after visa issues prevented him from joining the team for the start of camp. The exact timing on Vrana joining the team is yet unclear.

Red Wings introduce flash ticket sale through Sunday

On Thursday morning, the Red Wings announced a flash sale on single-game tickets. Through Sunday at midnight, fans can buy tickets with no fees at
DetroitRedWings.com/NoFees
.
The Red Wings are set to welcome thousands of fans back to Little Caesars Arena for the first time since the pandemic hit in March 2020.
"Definitely feeling closer to normal," Blashill said, "and certainly when we get back into buildings where there are fans in the stands … that'll be a pretty exciting and welcome experience."