"Having Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm together keeps the average age of any Red Wings line down.

But throw in Todd Bertuzzi …

Bertuzzi is 36 years old and skating with Abdelkader and Helm, both 24.

"I love both of the kids, they're in for a long career, and they play the game right," Bertuzzi said. "We'll see what kind of chemistry we can build throughout the preseason and if we can contribute at both ends."

Bertuzzi arrived in training camp with no lingering issues from a concussion suffered during Game 7 against San Jose in the Western Conference semifinals last season.

While he's excited about the possibilities of skating with the young duo, Bertuzzi simply is pleased to be skating this early during camp, especially considering his concussion.

"It took months, and a long process," Bertuzzi said about the recovery. "I was interested how it would be with contact, but so far, knock on wood, it's been fine.

"I probably could have forced myself to come back early (in the playoffs had the Red Wings advanced past the semifinals). But saying that, I was pretty out of it for a little while. I couldn't get a grasp on much of it.""