Ian White enjoyed a career year last season, playing along side Nicklas Lidstrom. White finished with a plus-23 in 77 games for the Red Wings. (Photo by Getty Images)

TROY, Mich. – Last season Ian White finished among the top 10 plus-minus defensemen in the league. Certainly, having a future hall-of-famer for a defense partner, helped in White’s achievement as he produced a career-best plus-23 in 77 games.

Prior to his arrive in Detroit last season, White had logged more than 400 NHL games while playing along side such partners as Luke Richardson, Hall Gill, Robyn Regehr and Niclas Wallin.

But last preseason, when White learned that he drew the big straw and would be paired with Nicklas Lidstrom, the former Maple Leafs’ draft pick said that he was, “Probably the luckiest guy in the hockey world,” for having received such an assignment.

But time will tell what’s in store for the eight-year pro and the Red Wings, who enter the abbreviated 2013 season without Lidstrom, one of the league’s all-time best at his craft.

In June, the seven-time Norris Trophy winner announced that he was retiring after 20 seasons in the National Hockey League.

“It’s going to be a lot different,” White said, following Monday’s informal player skate at Troy Sports Center. “Playing with arguably the best defenseman of all-time, it was quite a thrill to have a chance to play with him, quite an honor.”

The Red Wings also lost veteran blueliner Brad Stuart, who signed with San Jose during the offseason, leaving White as the most-experienced NHL defensemen on Detroit’s roster.

“I thought we worked well together, had some big chemistry right from the start,” White said of Lidstrom. “I’ve been used to playing with new guys fairly often, we’ll see who I get to play with.”

As for now, it’s expected that the Wings will have seven defensemen – including Carlo Colaiacovo, Jonathan Ericsson, Jakub Kindl, Niklas Kronwall, Kyle Quincey and Brendan Smith – ready for the shortened training camp, which some web site reports have indicated will begin between Saturday and Monday.

Because of the shortened season, White believes that player health and team depth will be crucial components to the Wings’ success.

“We've been skating pretty good for the last few months and that’s probably the best way to avoid injury,” he said. “You look at the NBA when they started last year … I heard lots of guys were getting hurt there just from playing so often and not getting much time for their bones and muscles to heal, so that is definitely going to be an issue. … Hopefully nothing major happens.”

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