Andrej-Nestrasil-scores

Andrej Nestrasil a shootout goal in the Red Wings 3-2 win at Boston in the preseason finale

(AP File Photo)

DETROIT – Andrej Nestrasil has cleared his first hurdle with the Detroit Red Wings.

But that doesn't mean the finish line is anywhere in sight.

The rookie forward still has lots of work to do in order to not only crack the lineup but remain with the Red Wings once they're back to full strength.

Nestrasil, who was out of minor-league options, avoided having to go through waivers to remain with the Red Wings by making the roster that will open the regular season Thursday night vs. the Boston Bruins at Joe Louis Arena.

"I'm more than pleased," said Nestrasil, 23. "If you would have asked me a couple weeks before the camp I would tell you 99 percent they would send me down. I thought I was going to get two exhibition games and I ended up playing five.

"Camp was really (good) and I'm glad to still be here."

Nestrasil, the Red Wings' third-round pick (75th overall) in the 2009 NHL draft, spent last season with Grand Rapids of the AHL after splitting the previous two campaigns between the Griffins and Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.

Last season, he had 16 goals and 20 assists in 70 regular-season games before scoring four times in 10 playoff games.

"I think my confidence level is way higher than it used to be because the second half of my season last year was really good," said the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Czech Republic native. "Gaining confidence is the biggest thing.

"If you want to play here you have to be confident."

The Red Wings needed to trim the roster by two players before today's 5 p.m. deadline to reach the 23-man limit heading into the game against Boston.

Nestrasil survived the cut ahead of defenseman Xavier Ouellet and goaltender Petr Mrazek, who were both sent to Grand Rapids after spending time with the Red Wings last season.

Coach Mike Babcock preferred to keep Ouellet, who played four games with Detroit last season, but general manager Ken Holland didn't want to do that at the expense of Jakub Kindl or Brian Lashoff.

"He had a strong finish in the American League last year and he's had a strong camp," Holland said. "It appears Pavel Datsyuk is doubtful for Thursday night so it's an opportunity to look at him. I guess out of all the young forwards he's the guy that's impressed us the most in the early going.

"It's a marathon and things change game to game and week to week and for now he's played his way onto the roster and we'll evaluate where he's at and where we're at on a day to day basis."

Nestrasil has no idea what to expect when it comes to ice time.

"I just try to have the mindset that I have when I came to camp," he said. "Every time you expect something from life you get it when you don't expect it. It's even better when you don't expect that much because you're surprised and happy. I try to keep it that way.

"It has worked out well for me so far."

In all likelihood, Nestrasil be the odd man out when Pavel Datsyuk comes off the injured list after suffering a shoulder injury during the preseason opener in Pittsburgh.

Although Nestrasil skated alongside Darren Helm and Gustav Nyquist in practice this morning, when he was also on the No. 2 power-play unit, he's not reading too much into that.

"Yesterday I was on the gray (non-contact) line. Today I was on a power-play line," he said. "We'll see what happens tomorrow. If you try and find a sign you can find a sign in everything. If my sticks are on one side or the other it doesn't change anything.

"We'll see what happens these next couple of days and then see on Thursday if I'm going to play or not."

The Red Wings had a 3-1-1 record in the five exhibition games Nestrasil played. He had two goals, two assists, a minus-1 rating, nine shots on goal and a shootout goal in a 3-2 victory over Boston in the preseason finale.

Nestrasil was named the game's No. 1 star in a 3-2 victory over Chicago, when he had one goal, one assist, a plus-2 rating and four shots.

Nestrasil, who said he wouldn't have been disappointed had he ended up back in Grand Rapids, has no idea what the future holds for him.

"I'm in the same position as you guys," he said. "It's not even day-by-day, it's more minute-to-minute. I just try and stay calm and do whatever I need to do. Show up every day and see where it takes me.

"I think I've done the most I could during camp. I did even better than I expected to do. If I stay here and play with the Red Wings or if I'm going to go down and play 20 minutes a game in Grand Rapids, I'm still at the age where I've got to get my game better. I still have to get better every year.

"Either way is going to be fine with me."

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