Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning 2-3-16

The Red Wings' Tomas Jurco hasn't been productive the past two seasons while his ice time has declined.

(AP file photo)

(Another in a series of player profiles prior to training camp.)

Tomas Jurco

Position: Right wing

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 6-1/203

2015-16 stats: 44 games, four goals, two assists, six points, minus-6 rating, 16 penalty minutes; (playoffs) heathy scratch all five games.

Career stats: 143 games, 15 goals, 24 assists, 39 points, even plus-minus rating, 44 penalty minutes; (playoffs) 10 games, one goal, one assist, two points, minus-2 rating, two penalty minutes.

Contract status: One year remaining at a salary-cap hit of $900,000. He'll be a restricted free agent next summer.

2015-16 in review: Posted lowest point total of three-year NHL career. ... Average ice time of 9:11 was lower than each of his first two seasons (13:28, 11:31). ... Healthy scratch in 21 of first 25 games and in 18 of final 21 games, including all five playoff games. ... Played in 19 fewer games than he did in 2014-15. ... Averaged 0.98 shots per game, compared to 2.14 as a rookie in 2013-14 and 1.46 the next season. ... Recorded nine points (four goals, five assists) during five-game conditioning stint with Grand Rapids, earning AHL player of the week. ... Led Slovakia with five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games at the World Championship.

2016-17 outlook: Jurco, with his skating ability and offensive skills, showed much promise as a rookie in 2013-14. But his career has gone south ever since. He didn't take the next step in 2014-15, when he would have been better off in Grand Rapids, and continued to regress last season.

Now, with a crowded roster, he'll have a tougher time cracking the lineup.

Former coach Mike Babcock wanted Jurco to utilize his size by playing more physical, going to the hard areas of the ice, including the net front, and wear on defenses by forechecking hard, instead of trying to beat opponents one-on-one. He would need to adjust his game to play on the fourth line and embrace the role because his skills are more suited for a top-nine role.

Jurco will need to distinguish himself in training camp and the preseason, when the team will be missing six forwards who'll be playing in the World Cup, plus the injured Teemu Pulkkinen. But even if he does, it might not be enough to avoid being a regular healthy scratch.

Jeff Blashill said last season the organization has a long-term plan for Jurco. But if he's still with the team following the season he is likely to be exposed for the expansion draft.

Key question: Who can Jurco beat out for a spot in the lineup?