from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,
When you mention defenseman Danny DeKeyser to Blashill these days, Blashill goes to the defensive end of the rink and the standout play DeKeyser has provided this season.
“Danny has been excellent this year, and I mean excellent,” Blashill said. “He’s been a top-pair defending defenseman all season long whenever he’s been healthy. Our record shows it, when he and Mike Green, when they’ve been in the lineup. He’s been that good.”
Hand injuries have limited DeKeyser, 28, to only 26 games this season. He has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) while averaging over 21 minutes per game, while also possessing a plus-10 plus-minus rating....
“He looks stronger and his physical battles are harder and he knocks people around way more,” Blashill said. “He’s really taken a step into becoming an elite defender in the league — what I envisioned that he would be and I believe he is, right now.
“Overall, boy, if Danny keeps giving us in these next 30 some games the way he’s given us the games so far, we’re a real good team. If he gives us that in the future, we have a real good defender on our hands.”
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