George Sipple

Detroit Free Press

Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill revealed today that he plans to start the season with eight defensemen, one more than usual.

Counting against the eight will be Niklas Kronwall, who might not be ready to start the season because of his troublesome left knee.

“He’s going to practice a little bit today, but there’s definitely a chance he might not start the season ready,” Blashill said.

Blashill is giving several young defensemen a chance tonight, when the Wings visit the Toronto Maple Leafs for an exhibition at 7 p.m. in Hamilton, Ontario. The practice pairs this morning were: Brian Lashoff with Ryan Sproul, Joe Hicketts with Robbie Russo and Nathan Paetsch with Nick Jensen.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Blashill said. “In Chicago was one opportunity that we weren’t good enough. A lot of the young guys weren’t good enough. I thought, against Pittsburgh, they played better, so this gives them another chance tonight to show us what they’ve got.”

When asked about guys like Sproul, Jensen and Xavier Ouellet fighting to make the roster, Blashill said Lashoff, Russo and Dan Renouf should be included in the conversation, too.

“We’ve got a decision to make Saturday night,” Blashill said. “We’ve got two more games to watch.”

Asked who had separated themselves, Blashill said: “I’ll keep that to myself.”

Blashill said he knows what he’ll do with most of the opening roster. There’s still some questions as to where some guys will play and “a spot or two that you still have to make a final decision on.

“If you’ve got two more games, let’s watch two more games.”

The Wings conclude the preseason by hosting the Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Blashill did acknowledge that Renouf, 22, will start out with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American Hockey League but added that he’s a guy who will be a consideration to be called up.

“I’m not trying to rush him,” Blashill said. “It might all be year where he doesn’t get (called up), it might be two years. I don’t know. But he made a good impression in camp because he skates well, he’s smart, he’s rangy with his stick and he’s got pretty good poise.”

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