TRAVERSE CITY - Big, tough guys aren't known for being fleet-footed, but Luke Witkowski is an exception.

He moves up and down the ice well. That skating ability, combined with his tenacity and toughness, are traits he hopes earns him a regular spot in the Detroit Red Wings lineup.

"I feel like I can skate with just about anybody," Witkowski said Saturday during Red Wings training camp. "And my work ethic; got to work hard every day and pay attention to detail."

Witkowski (6-3, 214) has appeared in only 54 NHL games over parts of three seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. But the Red Wings believe he can provide toughness. That's why they signed him to a two-year, $1.5 million contract the first day of free agency July 1.

"I wear my heart on my sleeve and I can play that gritty game," Witkowski, 27, said. "So, I'll bring the chippiness."

The Holland native jumped at the opportunity to return to his home state.

"Being a Michigan guy, you grow up looking up to (the Red Wings)," Witkowski said. 'To put the sweater on and get a chance to play my first game here is awesome."

Witkowski played for coach Jeff Blashill for one season at Western Michigan, where he and new teammate Danny DeKeyser were roommates. DeKeyser was excited about the prospects of a reunion in the summer.

"He asked, 'Is this really happening? Are the rumors true?' " Witkowski said. "I was like, 'Yeah, they have interest. We'll see what happens after July 1.' "

The Red Wings also like Witkowski's versatility. He can play right wing or defense. For now, he's competing with prospect Tyler Bertuzzi for a spot on the fourth line, alongside Riley Sheahan and Luke Glendening.

Witkowski said he played quite a bit at forward as a youth and played there the final 10-15 games of 2016-17 with the Lightning.

He said it's difficult at times moving back and forth from forward to defense.

"There were games last year where I'd sit in the middle of the bench, one shift I was playing forward, one shift I was playing D," Witkowski said. "You just kind of get used to it. There's a lot more skating forwards as a forward and more skating backwards at D."

The versatility sets him apart.

"I didn't really think about it until last year," he said. "I stepped in and actually earned more ice time. I thought maybe I can continue this and make a career out of it."

Red Wings fans remember Witkowski for fighting Anthony Mantha on March 30, a scrap that resulted in a broken finger for the Detroit rookie forward. Witkowski was exacting revenge for Mantha having broken an unwritten rule six nights earlier by pummeling the Lightning's Greg McKegg when he was down.

There are no hard feelings.

"We were shooting some pucks (Friday) and he kept hitting me in the hand and I was like, 'You trying to get me back?' " Witkowski said. "He said, 'Yeah, I got to shoot it harder.' We're good. That's part of the game. Players understand that and leave it on the ice."

Witkowski was reminded about the two-year lease on a Porsche Boxter DeKeyser won for his hole-in-one during the team's golf outing Friday.

"I don't know if he even knows how to drive a stick-shift, so I might be driving it every day," Witkowski said.