Detroit's Mike Commodore, left, fights with Philadelphia's Matt Walker on Friday night.DETROIT -- As someone who earned a contract following a tryout with the Detroit Red Wings six years ago and then resurrected his NHL career, Danny Cleary can relate to Fabian Brunnstrom’s situation.
Brunnstrom, a former Swedish prodigy whose NHL career quickly fizzled in Dallas, is maximizing his tryout opportunity with the Red Wings, showing that he desperately wants to earn a contract.
"I’ve been impressed with him since Day 1," Cleary said. "Big kid, in good shape. Certainly handles the puck well, sees the ice well. He’s got a nice, little shot."
Brunnstrom was one of the Red Wings’ few bright spots Friday, scoring their lone goal in a 3-1 exhibition loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Joe Louis Arena.
Brunnstrom went to the net and fired in a nice pass from rookie Cory Emmerton to open the scoring at 4:23 of the first period. The Red Wings, playing with half of their regular lineup, did not generate much attack, however, finishing with 23 shots on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and dropping to 1-2 in the preseason. Jimmy Howard played the entire game for Detroit, making 19 saves.
Brunnstrom, 26, is competing with Emmerton and veteran Ryan Johnson -- also in Detroit on a tryout -- for the last available forward spot.
"I sure thought he was good tonight," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said of Brunnstrom. "We’re going to watch over a period of time. But every time you put your equipment on, if you do positive things you’re setting yourself up, so I was impressed with him tonight.
"He skates better than I expected, hangs onto the puck and makes some plays."
Brunnstrom has said he would be willing to go to the Grand Rapids Griffins and work his way back to the NHL, if that’s what it takes.
"I’m doing all that I can," Brunnstrom said. "I’m trying to do the best I can every shift and every practice, on and off the ice."
He has matured, physically and mentally, since breaking into the NHL with much fanfare in 2008.
"I’ve developed," Brunnstrom said. "In three years since I came over here, every day I’ve tried to be better, work hard. Maybe it takes a little bit time. But it’s a long journey and it doesn’t stop here. My goal is to play a long time, maybe until Nick Lidstrom’s age (41)."
Cleary needed to show a commitment to defense before earning a contract with Detroit in 2005-06 and he believes Brunnstrom is in the same boat.
"With Bruno, I think it’s going to be his play away from the puck that’s going to determine (his fate)," Cleary said. "I’ve always believed that you can teach a guy defense. Offense, you can’t teach what he’s got. He’s got good instinctive skills."
Cleary was sporting a cut on his chin he said will require stitches, after colliding with former teammate Andreas Lilja.
"I hit his helmet, with that huge head of his," Cleary said.
Defenseman Brendan Smith seemed to be the Flyers’ favorite target. He was fortunate to avoid injury when he was checked from behind into the boards by Mike Testwuide at 12:08 of the first period.
Garnet Exelby jumped Testwuide, triggering a melee in the corner to the right of Howard. Testwuide received a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct. The Red Wings, however, failed to score on the power play, generating only one shot.
Exelby, an abrasive veteran of 408 NHL games, is competing for a spot on defense after signing a one-year contract in the offseason. He is slated to start the season in Grand Rapids, however.
Smith was leveled again with 4:46 to play in the second period, on an open-ice hit by Matt Walker, who was not penalized for the check.
Mike Commodore, Smith’s defense partner, took exception, dropping the gloves and instigating a fight with Walker. No significant punches were landed by either player.
The Flyers took a 2-1 lead on goals from James van Riemsdyk and Jaromir Jagr 52 seconds apart late in the first period.
This was Jagr’s preseason debut. The five-time scoring champ and former Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP returned to the league in July following three seasons in Russia.
Jagr, 39, spurned offers from the Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins to sign a one-year deal with Philadelphia.
Matt Read gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead with an unassisted goal at 10:41 of the second period.
Babcock said Brunnstrom, Emmerton and Jiri Hudler were his best forwards.
Notes
-- A moment of silence was observed before the game for the victims of the Sept. 7 plane crash in Russia involving KHL club Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Among the 44 who died were former Red Wings assistant coach Brad McCrimmon, defenseman Ruslan Salei and goaltending prospect Stefan Liv.
-- The Red Wings reassigned forward Tomas Jurco to his junior club, the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL). Detroit now has 55 players in training camp.
Jurco, 18, was the Red Wings' first pick, 35th overall, in this year's entry draft.