Renovation of Jurco's game off to clean start

Traverse City -- Maybe in hindsight, Tomas Jurco needed more seasoning in Grand Rapids.

It appeared that way at times, as Jurco struggled through a 2014-15 season in which he scored three goals (with 15 assists) in 63 games.

Out of minor-league options, and mired in a tough fight for ice time, Jurco began stating his case for playing time with a good game in Saturday's intra-squad scrimmage. Jurco had a goal and two assists while taking Darren Helm's spot on a line with Brad Richards and Tomas Tatar.

"He'd (Jurco) like to take that next step up but he has to earn that ice time and he knows that," coach Jeff Blashill said. "He has real good speed, skills and size, and those are three real good assets. Hopefully he can continue playing like he did today."

Different look

Luke Glendening played wing on a line with Riley Sheahan, and Johan Franzen was on the other wing, as Blashill juggled the lineup Saturday.

"We're just trying different things, that's what training camp is for, different combinations," Blashill said.

Glendening primarily played on a wing before turning pro in Grand Rapids, where he began playing center.

"It's not a huge adjustment," Glendening said. "A lot of it is the same. I just have to get used to it. I played it until I turned pro."

Ice chips

Former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, who now coaches the defense in a non-bench position, is walking around camp with a neck brace.

Chelios wouldn't say how he suffered the injury, but joked, "I'll be out two to four weeks."

… Defenseman Mike Green, signed as an unrestricted free agent July 1, has looked dangerous with the puck on his stick.

"He has elite skill," Blashill said. "When you have that type of skill, I'll take my chances."

… The Red Wings have one more set of practices and an intra-squad scrimmage Sunday before the Red-White game Monday afternoon. The Wings return to Detroit on Monday and play an exhibition game Tuesday in Chicago.