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Thinned-out Turgeon in thick of center battle |
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While medication was working to thin the blood pulsing through Dominic Turgeon’s body, the center crop of the Detroit Red Wings was also being thinned out.
With the likelihood that captain Henrik Zetterberg (back) won’t play for the team at all this season, if ever again, at the very minimum Turgeon is now the first center on call from AHL Grand Rapids in the event injuries occur on the big club.
“My mindset is to come into camp and be strong in what I can bring to hockey,,” Turgeon told MLive.com. “I guess being a strong two-way player, being good on faceoffs, being good on the penalty kill, and also provide some offense.
“Just play the best hockey I can.”
Not so long ago, Turgeon was left to wonder when he’d play hockey again. A blood clot formed in his arm late last season, endangering his health and bringing about an end to Turgeon’s campaign.
“I’m not really sure how I got it,” Turgeon said. “One day my arm just kind of got swollen, kind of got big. I thought it was from an elbow problem at first. It never really went away. Eventually I got it checked out and I needed surgery right away. They said a lot of pitchers or even tennis players get it, but it’s very rare for hockey players.
The recovery period necessitated by the blood clot put a crimp in Turgeon’s offseason workout regimen.
“I was on blood thinners for three months, so I had no contact until I got off those, Turgeon said. “I slowly started training after six weeks or so, just riding the bike a little bit, a little bit of body exercises and then slowly week after week got into doing weights.
“It definitely was scary. I didn’t know much of it at the time, but stuff happens in life. Thankfully, the recovery went well.”
Turgeon, 22, the son of former NHL star Pierre Turgeon, got into five games with Detroit last season, and that first taste of the show only left him craving more.
“Yeah, obviously it was a dream to be in the National League,” Turgeon said. “To get a taste of it, you definitely get that drive and want to be back there. Having that motivation, especially throughout summer time, is a big help.”
Jokinen Offered PTO
Vagabond veteran forward Jussi Jokinen will attend Detroit’s training camp on a pro tryout contract. Jokinen, 35, played for four NHL teams last season - the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks - accounting for five goals and 17 points in 60 games.
Jokinen has also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, and Tampa Bay Lightning, meaning if he makes the Wings, they would be his 10th NHL club.
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