DETROIT – Not since Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski in 2010-11, have the Red Wings had the offensive benefit of two defensemen reach the 40-point plateau in a single season.
Danny DeKeyser hopes that changes this season, and that’s a real possibility with the free-agent signing of veteran blue liner Mike Green – who played the first 10 seasons on his NHL career with the Washington Capitals – and Niklas Kronwall is coming off back-to-back 44-plus point seasons.
“I think with the past few years the back end we’ve wanted to contribute a little more than we have,” said DeKeyser, who served as a youth hockey camp counselor Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena.