Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

Tomas Jurco was a bored teenager, and then he found salvation.

Internet service was added to his house in Kosice, Slovakia, and just like that, his ennui ebbed, and a hockey career blossomed.

That Jurco may well stick with the Red Wings at the tender age of 21 owes just a bit to what he was doing eight years ago — sitting inside, staring at a computer screen.

"It was kind of lucky for me, because we got Internet in my home when I was 13, 14, and that's when I started spending four, five hours a day on YouTube just watching videos of hockey," Jurco said Wednesday. "And then I tried the same stuff at the practices. That helped me so much. I can't even tell you how much it helped me.

"Internet saved my hockey career."

His career reached the NHL level last season, when the Detroit Red Wings looked to their farm team to lead the rescue effort for a Detroit squad that was emaciated by injuries. Jurco turned a December stint into a mid-January tenure, convincing his coach he's ready for a full-time engagement.

"Jurcs is an elite skater, big body," coach Mike Babcock said. "Turns the puck over too much; we have to get that fixed. But he has all the ability to play with the real good players and be a real good support guy. He doesn't get the puck to the net or go to the net himself enough, if he wants to be a scorer in the league, but he can be a real good support player at this point."

The Wings have 16 forwards in camp who would require waivers to be sent to the minors, and that's without the possibility of Daniel Alfredsson joining the mix. He's skated daily this week at Joe Louis Arena and is telling teammates his back feels better. The Wings are waiting for him to decide if he feels he can play another season.

The 23-man roster is due next week, and Jurco is vulnerable because he's still waiver exempt. Asked if he'd be on the NHL team, Babcock replied, "There's lots of things going into that. If I'm picking the team, he's on the team."

Jurco contributed eight goals among 15 points in 36 games last season. He scored his first of the exhibition season Monday, evidence he's back up to speed after a slow ending to his summer.

"I'm finding my hands again," he said. "After I arrived, I was a little bit out of shape from traveling. I didn't have my visa, so for the last week I was just traveling around Slovakia getting my visa. So first few days, I was kind of out of it. Now I feel good again."

It's hard to make a case against Jurco, all the more so because of the chemistry he and linemates Riley Sheahan and Tomas Tatar have developed. Tatar is a puck hound, and Babcock practically gushes over Sheahan, noting his size and the potential for offensive growth from a guy already great at playing well without the puck.

"He can really play against the best players without the puck, but he makes great plays in tight," Babcock said. "He's got a bomb. He can pass the puck on the backhand. He looks like he's evolving into a real good player."

Jurco and Sheahan both add size to Detroit's lineup, which the Los Angeles Kings demonstrated is a huge asset during their Stanley Cup run last season. Jurco and Tatar both add speed, another vital asset.

Jurco said he doesn't think about where he'll end up next week, but conceded it would be "disappointing" if it's Grand Rapids. He does want to move — he's back at the same downtown hotel he lived in after being called up last season, a place he affectionately calls "my apartment. I just bought a new Xbox for it. Hopefully if they tell me I can stay, I can find a place, finally."

That place should be in the Detroit area. Internet service providers, be on standby.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.