"It's a hard thing to hold onto consistently, so you just gotta stay even keel and handle the ups and downs. I think the confidence is at a good level and I just gotta keep it."
In his first season with Detroit, Suter had 15 goals and 21 assists, playing in all 82 games. Along with Lucas Raymond and Calder Memorial Trophy winner Moritz Seider, the 26-year-old Suter was the only other Red Wings player to appear in every game in 2021-22.
After arriving to Detroit via trade from the St. Louis Blues on March 22, Sundqvist, 28, had four goals and four assists in 18 games last season with the Red Wings.
And as for 22-year-old Joe Veleno, who was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins and recalled by Detroit several times throughout the 2021-22 campaign, he also made the most of his time with the Red Wings last season, collecting eight goals and seven assists in 66 games.
Detroit padded its depth in the middle this offseason by signing Ann Arbor, Mich., native Andrew Copp to a five-year deal.
Last season, Copp set career-highs in goals (21), assists (32), points (53) and average time on ice (19:11) in 72 games with the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets.
According to the 28-year-old, he's excited to suit up for his hometown team because he believes in Yzerman.
"Steve did a great job building the team in Tampa," Copp said in his introductory media session on July 13. "Not to take away anything from (current Tampa Bay GM Julien) BriseBois, but Steve was there for a while, drafted a bunch of those guys and turned that into a big part of where they're at today. That trust stems from there.
"And seeing the product on the ice the last couple of years, with Raymond and Seider, really was an influx of talent. I think everyone across the league saw it as an opportunity where Detroit is gonna be good in a couple years, just wait. I'd like to be part of that."
