Detroit Red Wings Rookie Named in Top Ten Calder Trophy Candidates

Filip Zadina of the Detroit Red Wings was named as one of the top ten players this season expected to win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year in the NHL.

Zadina isn’t even in Detroit yet but remains a nominee for the rookie of the year award.  It speaks volumes to the young forwards potential.  Zadina was selected sixth overall this past summer by the Detroit Red Wings.  Zadina expected to go third overall behind Rasmus Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov, the younger brother of Red Wings forward Evgeny.

Dahlin is the early season front-runner for the award, but the NHL has seen a lot of potential impact players emerge to start the new season.  Elias Pettersson, a top center already for the Vancouver Canucks has potential to run away with the award while all eyes are on Dahlin in Buffalo.

Svechnikov is expected to have a fabulous season in Carolina.  The Canes’ are confident enough in him they traded away Jeff Skinner.  Skinner wasn’t expected to resign in Carolina. Unlike the Columbus Blue Jackets who are holding onto Artemi Panarin for the time being, they moved Skinner rather than losing him as an unrestricted free agent at seasons’ end.

In a recent article published by USA Today, Kevin Allen caught up with the Buffalo Sabres newly appointed captain Jack Eichel who recently compared the rookie of the year front-runner Rasmus Dahlin to Nicklas Lidstrom;

"“What I’ve noticed is how effortless it is for him,” Eichel said. “How smooth he is, catching a pass and shooting the puck. He reminds me of (Nicklas) Lidstrom a little bit.”“It’s a crazy comparison,” he said. “But (Dahlin) isn’t physical, and he gets his stick on a lot of pucks and reads the play well. To me, it’s about how he sees everything.”"

Filip Zadina rounds out the rookie group, ranked tenth in the article.  It speaks volumes to his potential.  Dylan Larkin reflects on what he’s noticed about young Z.

"“From the first 20 minutes on the ice with him, you can tell he has it all put together,” Red Wings center Dylan Larkin said. “He just understands hockey. He understands timing. He looks like a professional.”"

That being said, it is nice to see Zadina ranked tenth.  I don’t think Zadina will even finish as the Detroit Red Wings rookie of the year.  I expect Michael Rasmussen who has a head start by starting the season in Detroit to be the Wings most effective rookie forward.

Dennis Cholowski has an opportunity to advance his stock with a continued effort each and every night.  The pair each have a chance from game one of the season to be more impactful rookies in year one over Z.  Don’t get me wrong, Zadina will be a dynamic talent in the future, likely at some point this season but will be playing catch up throughout his rookie season.