TRAVERSE CITY - Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill changed tactics with this year’s training camp squads.
Breaking from a years-long tradition of divvying up NHL veterans among all three teams, Blashill essentially created one squad comprised largely of those that will make up the 2017-18 Red Wings, another squad heavy on those that will comprise the Grand Rapids Griffins and possible call-ups, and a third of mostly prospects.
The decision was spurred by a desire to come out of the gate finely tuned.
“You’re limited on practice times until the first game of the year,” Blashill said Thursday morning outside Centre Ice Arena, where the Red Wings will begin training camp.