Detroit Red Wings: It may come down to Zadina or Svechnikov

The Detroit Red Wings may have a significant decision to make to start the NHL season.  It may come down to Svechnikov or Zadina.  One stays in Detroit and the other starts in Grand Rapids.

The Detroit Red Wings have a bunch of forwards stockpiled, and something has to give.  All of the NHL experienced players are trying to fend off the NHL hopefuls.  The Grand Rapids Griffins will benefit from an overflowing bucket of forwards.

Detroit will need to send some talent down.  It may just come down to Evgeny Svechnikov or Filip Zadina.  Zadina has skated with Thomas Vanek and Andreas Athanasiou during camp.  The three have gelled nicely.  The Wings will want to see how the trio performs in a preseason game.

Svechnikov was the Detroit Red Wings number one scoring prospect not that long ago.  Now Evgeny isn’t even the most talked about Svechnikov in the NHL.  Andrei is the younger brother of Evgeny was drafted second overall this past summer to the Carolina Hurricanes.  Andrei is expected to thrive, so much so Carolina traded Jeff Skinner to the Buffalo Sabres after the completion of the Entry Level Draft.

Evgeny Svechnikov struggled early and often last season in Grand Rapids and again near the end of the season when the Wings granted him a late season call up.   Svechnikov may use the hype around Zadina and Michael Rasmussen as motivation for himself.

Everyone is talking about Rasmussen, Zadina, and even Joe Veleno before Evgeny Svechnikov. Some players need more time to develop than others.  Svechnikov is still very much in the mix to make the Detroit Red Wings roster to start this season.

I don’t see the Wings burying Svechnikov or Zadina on its fourth line.  I believe one or the other will play alongside Vanek and AA.  The other is destined to start their season in Grand Raids.  It seems Martin Frk and Luke Witkowski are the early favorites to start the NHL season in the press box. It wouldn’t be wise for the Wings to have three forwards sitting when one could be playing a regular shift in Grand Rapids.

Filip Zadina needs to work at becoming reliable in his own zone.  Zadina is not known for his defensive paralysis by any means.  Zadina has looked good early on with AA and Vanek.  It’s almost set it stone AA, and Vanek will start together but who will be the other winger?  Zadina or Svechnikov?  I believe whoever doesn’t start on that wing between those two will start the season in Grand Rapids.

Svechnikov could slide into that third line wing position that Zadina has occupied so far.  Svechnikov is 6’3 and north of 210 pounds.  The 21-year-old has NHL experience, and we all know Blashill and Holland both consider that a positive before making a final decision.