-- Valtteri Filppula (jammed thumb) was on the ice today, but limited in practice. He didn't shoot, but he could pass and stickhandle.

"It feels better," said Filppula, whose thumb was hurt Sunday by an Aaron Downey check into the boards. "At least I can practice."

Filppula won't play in tonight's scrimmage and he won't participate in Tuesday's Howe/Lindsay game (formerly the Red/White game). But coach Mike Babcock said he might get into preseason games this week.

"He's out there the whole time (today) which is really good," said Babcock. "He just wants to make sure his legs are (good)."

-- Most junior players will be sent home from camp after tonight's scrimmage. The roster will be down to 42 after that.

-- Babcock said that the plan is to use two Red Wing teams during the first six preseason games. The two squads will alternate games with the Howe team playing in Wednesday's home game and the Lindsay team going in Thursday's game in Halifax against the Bruins. The rosters for the Howe and Lindsay teams will be released later today.

By the final weekend of the preseason, the roster will be trimmed to 30.

-- Dallas Drake stopped by Center ICE Arena to visit with his former teammates.