Sunday Special

Red Wings give Patrick Eaves chance to resurrect career

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

Calgary, Alberta -- Kris Draper has seen a change come over new linemate Patrick Eaves the last week or so.

"Even in practice you can see that he is a lot more confident," Draper said. "That comes with more opportunity and more ice time. You can see that he's just going out there and playing."

Eaves got his first goal as a Red Wing on Thursday in Edmonton, and after Valtteri Filppula broke his right wrist in the same game, Eaves is getting his first real chance to contribute.

"Any opportunity you get you feel good about," said Eaves after the Wings' morning skate Saturday. "But my main focus is getting the two points and finishing this trip off. That's all I am worried about."

Not only will Eaves skate on the third line with Draper and Darren Helm, coach Mike Babcock also has put him on the second power-play unit with Henrik Zetterberg and Danny Cleary.

That's quite an upgrade in responsibility for a guy, who previously played in just five games and averaged less than 11 minutes of ice time on the fourth line.

"A tie always goes to the veteran guy here," Babcock said, explaining why Eaves waited his turn behind Draper, Kirk Maltby and even Brad May. And then we had some kids (Helm, Ville Leino and Justin Abdelkader) we were trying to use and figure out. We knew (Eaves) was staying here, so now he's getting his opportunity."

Getting comfortable

The 25-year-old Eaves, like Johan Franzen, Mikael Samuelsson and Cleary before him, is another Wings reclamation project. He scored 34 goals in his first two years with Ottawa, and then because of injuries and getting lost in roster shuffling by both Ottawa and Carolina, he's managed 12 goals the last three seasons.

But he's a strong skater, defensively-responsible winger and possesses one of the hardest shots on the team -- assets that enticed the Wings to throw his career a lifeline.

"He's one of the guys you cheer for because he's such a good person and a good pro every day," Babcock said. "We are hoping he can get back to being that 20-goal scorer he was when he came into the league."

Eaves said his recent comfort level is a product of understanding the Wings system.

"That's what they want here -- for you to know the system so well, you don't have to think once you are out there playing," he said. "I am more comfortable with it every day, getting better every day. Just being able to practice with the caliber of players we have here, you just hope it carries over."

As for having to wait his turn, he said, "I never worried about that. I just tried to make the best of whatever ice time I was getting. Unfortunately Fil went down, and it's opened up an opportunity. Hopefully we can all step up and pick up the slack."

The Wings are counting on the Eaves-Draper-Helm line to create mayhem on the forecheck.

"First, we are going to be very reliable and take care of our end," Draper said. "But in the offensive zone, we'll be buzzing around, taking chances and getting to the puck to the net. If me and Helmer can do that, Eaves is going to get some chances. The kid can really fire the puck."

chris.mccosky@detnews.com