DETROIT – Joakim Andersson filled in nicely as the Detroit Red Wings' third-line center in 2013 in the absence of Darren Helm.

Andersson was solid defensively, provided some size and strength in the offensive zone and was strong in the faceoff circle during the playoffs.

The rookie was a fixture in the lineup after being called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins on Feb. 8 and was rewarded with a two-year, $1.465 million contract extension in August.

Joakim Andersson has switched from No. 63 to No. 18.

Now the 24-year-old forward is hoping to get quicker during his second NHL season.

“Skating-wise, I've taken small baby steps every year since I was 12,'' the 6-foot-2, 206-pound Andersson said. “I've been told I have to work on that. I'm getting better at that.

“Getting better at reading the game and being good defensively and trying to get better on faceoffs and all the small things I need to do.''

Andersson will switch uniform numbers, from No. 63 to No. 18, which was worn the past two years by defenseman Ian White, who wasn't re-signed, and before that, Kirk Maltby.

“It looks like (he'll change numbers),'' Andersson said. “They haven’t talked about it with me, but I had the No. 18 in Grand Rapids and in Sweden as well, so it looks like they’ve changed it.”

Andersson won only 46.4 percent of his faceoffs (81-of-173) during the regular season (38 games), but improved to 55.9 percent (99-of-177) during the playoffs (14 games).

“It took me a while to get used to this league, faceoff-wise,'' Andersson said. “I don't know why it was different than the American League because I did pretty good in the American League. When I got up here I was struggling at the start but then I figured it out.''

He credited much of the improvement to a lot of work he and Cory Emmerton did after practice with assistant coach Tom Renney.

“I got a first taste of the league last year and I’m more confident now that I know what it’s all about,'' Andersson said. “I know that I can play against the players in this league.”