TRAVERSE CITY -- Todd Bertuzzi is a rookie to Traverse City and Detroit Red Wings training camp.
But he certainly isn't a rookie to the NHL -- or the Red Wings.
Bertuzzi, a 13-year veteran, played with Detroit during the 2006-07 season. But since he came over on a trade deadline deal, he wasn't part of the team's annual visit to northern Michigan.
"It's obviously a new beginning," Bertuzzi said. "Being thrown in quick, you don't get into the systems as well as you'd like. Coming into to camp and learning it that way makes it a lot easier."
This offseason, the Red Wings also brought back Jason Williams, who also previously played for the organization. Williams was moved days before Bertuzzi arrived in 2007 and spent the last few years with Chicago, Atlanta and Columbus.
"Any time you sign a free agent, there's always the unknown," Detroit assistant GM Jim Nill said. "Does he fit in the room? Is he a hard worker? There are always question marks. We've had both of these guys in our room, so we know them as people, which is important."
Both forwards will be looked to as the Red Wings replace the departed Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson and Jiri Hudler, who combined for 77 goals last year.
"I think we've just got to do it collectively," Bertuzzi said. "We've stated before that if we play well defensively, offensively you're going to get your chances. There's plenty of goals in that room. It doesn't have to be one person and I think collectively, we can do it."
In Bertuzzi's last run with Detroit, he played in eight regular season games with two goals and two assists before scoring three goals and four assists in 16 playoff games.
"Having Bertuzzi from training camp instead of late in the season when he was coming off a major injury and didn't get up to the speed of playoff hockey will help," team captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "It's good to have the size he has and what it brings to our team. It's something we need."
Having a longer stint than 24 games will give Bertuzzi a better chance to develop into his role with the team.
"When he came here last time, it was late in the year and he had no time to figure out how we play," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "What he has to do is figure out how we play, and then he has to find his game within our game. That's what we ask all our players to do.
"We're a real structured team. You have to know how to react and know where to go in our situation. There's not a lot of ad-libbing, especially without the puck. And that will be the challenge for him."
Williams' role with Detroit is a little more defined.
"Williams is going to fill the point on the power play," Babcock said. "Williams for Samuelsson, that's what we've done. Both play point, both are third-line right wingers with potential to play up."
While the role has been put in front of Williams, he realizes he has to work for it.
"It's a spot that I'm familiar with, but I know it's not going to be handed to me," he said. "It's something we'll work on throughout camp and in the exhibition games to get familiar with each other and what our tendencies are. Being here before, I kind of know what to expect."
Williams also knew what to expect when he returned to Traverse City for camp.
"My first training camp here I walked off the plane and (remember) the warm welcome I got," he said. "As a young guy coming in without a contract or anything like that, I didn't know what to really expect. To come in, the fans were very good to us. It was exciting as a young guy to see the fan support that the Red Wings have."
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