DETROIT – How would you like to be the new guy in the Wings’ locker room and find out you will be paired with a seven-time Norris Trophy winner along the blue line to begin the preseason?
Let’s ask Ian White.
Wings coach Mike Babcock unveiled Tuesday, while his team went through an informal on-ice workout at Joe Louis Arena, that White will be paired with Nicklas Lidstrom at the start of training camp and through the preseason.
“I’m probably the luckiest guy in the hockey world right now,” White said. “To be a new guy coming in here and be paired up with one of the best defensemen to ever play the game, it’s quite an honor. He’s got a lot to teach me.”
White, who has been traded three times in his six seasons in the NHL, has had a number of partners on defense during his short career, including Luke Richardson, Hal Gill, Robyn Regehr and Nick Wallin.
“I consider it an honor,” White said. “Hopefully the coaches see that we have some chemistry out there. He makes it pretty easy to play. I’m just going to try not to screw up and make some plays. It’s going to be a great experience and I’m really looking forward to it.
“From everything I’ve heard about him, everything is true,” White added. “He’s a great leader and one of the all-time greats in the league. He’s a very amiable person and likeable guy. He’s a great captain and treats everyone with the utmost respect. He’s a great influence. He’s someone I can look up to.”
White, 27, signed a two-year deal worth $2.875 million a year this offseason. He was traded by Calgary to Carolina last season and then shipped to San Jose. He totaled four goals and 22 assists in 77 games last year.
“It doesn’t take too long to get used to new partners, we’re all professionals,” White said. “It’s a pretty easy fit with guys. Chemistry takes a little time to build, just to understand their tendencies and where guys are on the ice so you know where they’re at without even having to look. That takes a little while. Every guy is different. Sometimes it takes maybe a week or two.”
White was one of two right-handed shots the Wings signed this offseason, per the request of their captain. Mike Commodore was the other.
“I think it’s very important, especially if you play your side,” Lidstrom said. “It’s easier going D-to-D, it’s easier to look up ice and make plays. On the power play, you have the threat for a one-timer, instead of switching sides and you can make those passes along the blue line much quicker. It makes it easier.”
The Wings also were in need of a puck-moving defenseman that can play the point on the power play and White fits both roles.
“He’s a competitive guy,” Lidstrom said. “He works hard out there. He’s able to join the rush, get up in the play. He’s a good puck mover and a good skater.
“It’s just a matter of finding the right chemistry, early on and getting a feel for one another,” Lidstrom added. “We’re going to start camp together and we’ll go from there. It’ll be exciting.”
It’s the second straight training camp Lidstrom will start out with a new partner on the blue line. Last year, Lidstrom and Rafalski came to Babcock with the idea of breaking up one of the most productive pairings in the NHL for three seasons.
Babcock started camp with Lidstrom and Niklas Kronwall paired together, while Rafalski skated with Brad Stuart.
“Sometimes you click right away,” Lidstrom said. “You have to get a feel for each other and get an idea of how he’s reading plays. Whether he likes to step up at the blue line, or how we play in our own zone, whether we’re switching off.
“It’s little things like that you’re reading off each other,” Lidstrom added. “After awhile you’re not even thinking about it. You know where he’s going to be. It just takes a little while.”
Babcock also announced that Kronwall and Stuart will begin camp together. The other pairings on the blue line will be Jonathan Ericsson/Jakub Kindl and Mike Commodore/Brendan Smith.
“(Kindl) needs to take someone’s job,” Babcock said. “How does he do that? I’ll play him and Smith probably six games in exhibition to give them the opportunity they need to show what they’re capable of doing.
“The main guys, like E and the rest of those guys I’ll play four,” Babcock continued. “Commodore probably five, White probably five just because I don’t know them as good.”
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