(Another in a series of player profiles prior to training camp Sept. 18-23.)

Tomas Jurco

Position: Right wing/left wing

Age: 21

Height/Weight: 6-2/193

2013-14 stats: 36 games, eight goals, seven assists, 15 points, even plus-minus rating, 14 penalty minutes; (playoffs) three games, no goals, no assists, no points, minus-1 rating.

Career stats: Same.

Contract status: One year remaining at a cap hit of $709,167 (two-way). He will be a restricted free agent after the season. He is exempt from waivers.

2013-14 in review: Called up due to a rash of injuries, he made his NHL debut Dec. 15 vs. Tampa Bay and ended up playing in 36 of the final 47 games. ... Scored his first goal in his second game, Dec. 17 vs. Anaheim. ... Had multi-point games on Dec. 21 at Toronto and Feb. 27 at Ottawa. ... Scored goals in back-to-back games April 2-4. ... Missed seven games with a rib injury (March 14-25), the result of a cross-check by Columbus' Blake Comeau. ... Averaged 1:55 on the power play. ... Recorded 67 hits in just 36 games. ... He was a healthy scratch in the final two games of the playoff series vs. Boston. ... He was the youngest player on the Slovakian Olympic team and scored one goal in four games. ... He had 13 goals and 32 points in 32 games for Grand Rapids.

2014-15 outlook: Jurco showed a lot of promise as a rookie, steadily improving as the season progressed. The playoff series against the Bruins was a learning experience – like it was for all of the club's young players. He played mostly on a kid line with Riley Sheahan and Tomas Tatar. Jurco played well enough to deserve a roster spot this season, but he might be forced to start the year in Grand Rapids due to a roster crunch. If the Red Wings re-sign Daniel Alfredsson, they'll have 15 forwards, one more than they intend to carry. If all of them are healthy at the start of the season, Jurco is the one most likely to be sent down because he's the only one of that group who is exempt from waivers. If he's sent down, it will be temporary, because he'd likely be the first recall. Jurco has tremendous skills – he's a good skater and terrific stick-handler who can finish plays. He utilizes his size well, competing in the hard areas down low and in front of the net.

Key question: Will Jurco be forced to start the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins due to an excess of forwards?