3 Detroit Red Wings players to watch in training camp, preseason

Training camp for the Detroit Red Wings is in full swing and plenty of players to focus on.

With a much-needed upgrade to the roster, the Red Wings are hoping for a different outcome this season.

Rookies attending are looking to make a statement while newcomers look to get comfortable with their new surroundings.

The Detroit Red Wings are a team that has a few players worth keeping an eye on.

Robby Fabbri

Forward Robby Fabbri is one to watch as he is recovering from his fourth knee surgery, this time to clean things up.

Fabbri has been somewhat injury-prone since joining the Detroit Red Wings in a trade with the St. Louis Blues for forward Jacob de la Rose. Fabbri has had knee issues for some time now so hopefully this surgery is his last.

Fabbri, when he plays, is a top-six player who contributes offensively on a regular basis. During the 2022-23 season, he scored seven goals and 9 assists for 16 points in 28 games.

Since being acquired, he has played 166 out of a possible 328 games for Detroit. In those games, he has 48 goals and 47 assists for 95 points, and 91 penalty minutes.

While his time with the Red Wings has been full of time away from the ice, Detroit hopes he has made a full recovery and can produce on this talented roster.

If healthy, he is a middle-six player who is reliable on the power play. A healthy Fabbri could be the difference between a playoff spot and the season ending early.

Simon Edvinsson

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson is another player coming off of surgery. The 6-foot-8  and 198-pound defender had left shoulder surgery on May 2, 2023, and was scheduled to be out 4-6 months, or right around the time training camp started.

While Edvinsson is currently at camp, he needs to have an exceptional camp to try and take one of the spots on defense. He may need time to get back into game form and a start in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins may not be a bad thing.

The sixth overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, Edvinsson played nine games for the Detroit Red Wings last season scoring two goals. He spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with the Griffins, contributing five goals and 22 assists for 27 points, and 52 penalty minutes, in 52 games.

A healthy Edvinsson could make it difficult for management to make a decision concerning the opening night roster.

Alex Lyon

Goaltender Alex Lyon also needs a big camp for different reasons. The issue with Lyon in this training camp is he does not quite know his role on the team. Will it be the Detroit Red Wings as a backup to starter Ville Husso? Will he be in Grand Rapids as a starter?

A good camp could push him up to be Husso’s backup but an average camp and he will be in the AHL. He was brought on as a free agent on July 1,  2023, to the tune of a 2-year, $1.8 million deal.

Last season with the Florida Panthers, he posted a record of 9-4-2 in 15 games, with a 2.89 goals-against-average and a .914 save percentage.

Lyon is a capable goalie who can play big games when called upon. Regardless of being a starter or backup, he is reliable as he played a big part in the Panthers’ Stanley Cup run last season. This could be a big pickup by the Red Wings and play a crucial role down the stretch.