Niklas Kronwall unsure of status to begin season

The season is about to start and as players are participating in the World Cup of Hockey and Traverse City camps, training camp is in the back of everyone’s mind. We’ve written about the decline of Kronwall and how it is probably for the best that he misses the tournament. Now it appears he may not even be ready for the start of the season, will it impact the team that much?

Kronwall is one of the longest tenured players on the team
and with it, a lot of expectations are placed on him. He is considered the
number one defensemen on the team and frankly, it doesn’t make a whole lot of
sense. He has more than lost a step the past couple of years and tries to make
up for it with his physicality.

The worries for the Red Wings’ front office shouldn’t come
from who is going to replace Kronwall, they have Brendan Smith who can do that.
They should be worried about who can fill in that lower rung. Is it going to be
someone like Ryan Sproul or maybe Robbie Russo? They are a couple of players
that have impressed throughout the AHL.

It’ll lead to some awkward questions regarding Kronwall as
his time as a top flight player is done. When do they finally demote him and
put him into a role that is more fitting of his talents? No time like the
present but knowing the front office and prior decisions, this won’t be
happening anytime soon.

Expect Kronwall to stay right where he is, at
the top of Detroit’s defensive core