DETROIT -- The difference has been gradual but definite.

In this season's first exhibition game, Jiri Fischer made a couple of glaring turnovers and was caught out of position once. Generally, he looked like a 19-year-old defenseman eager to make a good impression -- but going about 150 mph doing it.

"Very natural for a young player," General Manager Ken Holland said.

Wait a game or two, the Wings' front office said. It takes a young player time to relax.

Fischer has played in two more games since, and sure enough, looks more like the top prospect scouts thought he was.

"I like him," Coach Scotty Bowman said. "I like all of our young defensemen."

Fischer is a 6-foot-5, 210-pound (and still growing) all-round threat who dominated the Quebec Junior League last season.

"I feel much better every game," said Fischer, who played a solid 19 minutes and 42 seconds in Saturday's 5-2 victory in Philadelphia while being paired with fellow prospect Jesse Wallin. "I am much calmer since the first game. That helps. Having a little confidence out there really helps and let's you play your game."

Fischer appears to be taking the lead in the race for the open position on defense. He's playing with the self-assurance the others are missing.

"I'm not thinking about it," said Fischer, about making the Wings or returning to Hull in juniors. "You have a lot of young players who are working hard to make the team. Whatever happens will happen. There are a lot of good players here."

It had to please the Wings' front office to sit in the press box Saturday and watch the poise and confidence of Fischer, Wallin, Yan Golubovsky, Maxim Kuznetsov, Mathieu Dandenault and Aaron Ward.

"The credit goes to (assistant GM) Jim Nill and his (scouting) staff," Holland said. "We drafted some young defensemen with the hopes that someday we'd wake up and have some good, young defensemen. It looks like we have that."