Detroit Red Wings Torch Maple Leafs to Conclude the 2018 Preseason

The Detroit Red Wings get a little bit of redemption beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the preseason finale.  The Leafs clipped and buried the Wings last night though when their starters played.

The Detroit Red Wings end the 2018 preseason on a high note, finishing with a 7-1 record.  Although many of the starters didn’t suit up, there were some bright spots tonight for the club.  Future Detroit Red Wings forward Givani Smith had a beautiful night when all eyes were on the first pick, Filip Zadina.

Smith recorded a couple of assists and continued to be a constant physical presence.  Smith won’t start the season in Detroit, but he will have an excellent opportunity next summer to win a job.  The problem is Smith fits perfectly on an NHL fourth line where he can grind away and cause havoc.  Detroit has too many over-paid fourth line talents on the current club.

Smith seems to project around the 20 point mark in the NHL.  He would be a cheaper Justin Abdelkader/Tyler Bertuzzi type forward with a limited upside of course.

Vili Saarijarvi is a right-handed defender we haven’t talked about much; he buried one of the goals Smith assisted on.  A one-timer on the power play found twine.  Vili was in the “Alex Ovechkin” office and let a rocket go that took him down to a knee.

Saarijarvi won’t make the Detroit Red Wings out of camp, but he will have an opportunity to go to the Griffins along with Filip Hronek and Libor Sulak ( we are speculating).  The group has a chance to make a real impact in the AHL and develop.  Detroit will be needed defenders in the coming years, Saaijarvi will land in Detroit down the road.

Matt Puempel, the former first overall pick of the Ottawa Senators, buried a beautiful top cheese goal and later added a helper.  Pump let go a wicked snapper from the top of the circle through traffic that found the back of the net.  Smith received an assist on that goal.

Puempel will remain a top-six forward for the Grand Rapids Griffins this season.  After a tremendous season with the club last year, he was waiting quite a long time before signing his two-year deal and was a bit behind the eight ball to start training camp.

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Martin Frk has fallen out of favor with the Detroit Red Wings fans, and coaching staff drilled a much-needed power play goal.  Frk has a howitzer but has trouble delivering it with regularity during five on five play.  Frk got the majority of his ice-time last season on the power-play.  He’s become a one trick pony.

It will be interesting to see if Ken Holland and company decide to roster Frk or try to slip him through waivers.  If he gets claimed it frees up 1 million in cap space if they keep him he will likely be their 13 or 14 forward.  If he clears waivers, he gets an opportunity to work on the rest of his game as a top-six forward in Grand Rapids.  We will know shortly what direction Detroit goes.

Evgeny Svechnikov recorded an assist for the Wings, I know he isn’t Blashill’s favorite by any means, but I still think Svechnikov has some value.  I would have Svechnikov on the opening night roster in favor of Frk and Zadina.

Don’t run out of patience with Zadina. He played on the top power-play unit and line tonight for the Detroit Red Wings and failed to record a point.  The 18-year-old has shown positive flashes, but it is fairly obvious he could use some work against professionals in the American Hockey League.

It won’t be the popular opinion across Red Wings nation, but there is no reason to rush him.  Sometimes young players need some time to come into their own.  Zadina has been dominating junior hockey players; he got a rude awakening over the past week.  Things are anything but comfortable in the NHL.  With the correct guidance, we could see young Z in a month in Detroit with much more confidence.

Libor Sulak recorded a power play goal late, but I think it is much too late to have an impact on the Detroit Red Wings decision.  Dennis Cholowski for sure makes this team next week, and I suspect Joe Hicketts will be the other youngster in the opening night line-up.

Dominic Turgeon had a nifty shorthanded backhander that found the back of the net.  Turgeon will be the first center called up if needed.  That being said Christoffer Ehn the Swedish center has been impressive at times throughout the preseason.  He’s another forward to keep tabs on.