from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Young defensemen impressed the Detroit Red Wings during training camp and preseason with their skating, passing, poise and hockey sense.

Now they'll have an opportunity to do it in games that count. Some, perhaps as many as four, will dress for the season opener Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Mike Green will be out longer than anticipated - coach Jeff Blashill said he'll likely miss a month recovering from a virus he compared to mono but said isn't mono. Niklas Kronwall has been ruled out for the opener with a day-to-day "tweak." Jonathan Ericsson (upper-body injury) didn't finish practice Tuesday and Blashill said he is "very questionable" for Thursday.

Trevor Daley returned to practice and was listed as "very probable" by Blashill.

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