DETROIT - A crowded blue line and tight salary cap do not bode well for Ryan Sproul's future with the Detroit Red Wings.

If the big, right-shooting defenseman has any hope of sticking around he must improve defensively. He will get his first opportunity in the preseason Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

"I think that instead of trying to be more offense, I'm going to try to change my game a little bit and just be more defensive and steady," Sproul said.

"That's the way the game is now. As a defenseman, I need to just be steady and let the coaches trust me in playing all zones."

Coach Jeff Blashill cited Sproul's "lack of assertiveness" offensively and defensively in making him a frequent healthy scratch last season.

"I think when Sproully plays his best, he goes back to pucks and he breaks it out with his feet," Blashill said. "He's got to make sure he's fast back to the puck, he's got to make sure he spends as little time in the D-zone as possible so he can use his best assets, and that's his feet and his shot.

"If he's breaking the puck out (well), then he's jumping into the play and he's real successful from the offensive blue line in. He'll get a chance on the power play as well and obviously needs to be elite on the power play."

Sproul (6-4, 206) appeared in 27 games (one goal, six assists, minus-8) before suffering a season-ending knee injury March 4 in Edmonton. He had surgery on April 18 on his left ACL and was recently cleared to play.

"I've been pretty close for a couple weeks now," Sproul said. "At camp, it was kind of no point to force it, so I'd like to get into a couple exhibition games, so I'm looking forward to it."

Sproul, 24, is the eighth defenseman on the depth chart. General manager Ken Holland said he plans to carry seven. If everyone is healthy after the preseason, the Red Wings might look to trade Sproul or waive him. If he cleared he could be assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

"There's decisions that are going to have to be made," Sproul said. "That's nothing I can control. I'm going to go out there and play my game and hopefully make the team. That's my goal."

Numbers game

Sproul, on why he switched from No. 48 to 62: "I got 48 given to me; 62 was my first number when I came to camp, so I like that number."

Injury updates

Justin Abdelkader (groin) and Henrik Zetterberg (kink in neck) skated briefly before practice Sunday. Blashill said they're hoping both can play in one preseason game. Niklas Kronwall (back) practiced again with the team on Sunday and Blashill said the goal is have him play in two of the final three exhibitions.

Prospects impress

Center Michael Rasmussen, the club's top pick this year, will play on Monday.

"I think Rasmussen and (defenseman Dennis) Cholowski have both played well so we've kept them a little longer," Blashill said. "This isn't keeping them for this season, but it's keeping them for experience to get as many looks as we possibly can."

Blashill said Jimmy Howard will start in goal Monday.