Jakub-Kindl-12-19-13

Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl has a minus-10 rating, after finishing plus-15 last season.

(The Associated Press)

TORONTO – Defenseman Jakub Kindl was arguably the Detroit Red Wings’ most improved player last season.

Kindl was strong defensively, chipped in some offense (13 points in 41 games) and led the club’s defensemen with a plus-15 rating.

It earned him a four-year, $9.6 million contract extension in the off-season.

Kindl hasn’t been as sharp this season, and tonight he will be a healthy scratch against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Kindl is the odd-man out because Danny DeKeyser will return after missing 15 games with a separated shoulder.

“I wouldn’t say disappointed; I just got to work harder,” Kindl said. “Just got to work harder, compete more and I’m sure if I do that I’ll be back in the lineup soon.”

Kindl has 10 points (goal, nine assists) in 37 games but he and Kyle Quincey are tied for the worst plus-minus on the team (minus-10).

Kind took his benching in stride, even joked that he wouldn’t have ate so much the night before had he known he wasn’t playing.

Meanwhile, DeKeyser is hoping to pick up where he left off. He had eight points (two goals, six assists) during a 10-game stretch before getting injured on Nov. 19.

“Once you get out there and start playing more and start making good plays, you kind of get into a good rhythm and good grove and just feel like you make good plays every time,” DeKeyser said. “It just comes with confidence and just playing.”

DeKeyser will be paired with Quincey.

“He’s a good player," coach Mike Babcock said of DeKeyser. Any player that’s been out a long time – it’s the NHL, it’s hard to jump right back in, but we’re confident he can make a difference for us so we’ll give him a good opportunity tonight.”

Babcock said there are no lineup changes at forward. He said he might change his lines a little bit but wouldn't reveal specifics. Here is how they started Thursday’s 3-2 overtime victory over Calgary:

Tomas Jurco-Pavel Datsyuk-Daniel Alfredsson

Drew Miller-Joakim Andersson-Tomas Tatar

Daniel Cleary-Luke Glendening-Patrick Eaves

Todd Bertuzzi-Riley Sheahan-Jordin Tootoo

There are tonight's defense pairs:

Jonathan Ericsson-Niklas Kronwall

Kyle Quincey-Danny DeKeyser

Brian Lashoff-Brendan Smith

Jonas Gustavsson (starting)

Petr Mrazek