Detroit — Ready or not, it’s hockey season.
As the Red Wings begin training camp Friday, they do so with a revamped roster caused somewhat by the loss of Pavel Datsyuk, who retired and returned to Russia.
To offset his loss, general manager Ken Holland signed free-agent forwards Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek, who along with scrappy forward Steve Ott, give the Red Wings a new look.
“There’s been some big acquisitions,” said defenseman Niklas Kronwall, who along with captain Henrik Zetterberg will not participate in camp because of knee injuries. “The guys that have come in, like Nielsen, he’s one of the most underrated guys in the league, an extremely smart player.