Evgeny Svechnikov hopes to play this season for the Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings prospect Evgeny Svechnikov had a solid training camp and seemed a sure thing to make the final roster.  Then the knee injury occurred and threw a wrinkle into everyone’s plans.

During a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a cruel fate awaited and the preseason and regular season came to an abrupt halt for Svechnikov. The Detroit Red Wings prospect would be injured with a torn ACL was thought to sideline a player many had tabbed Motown bound for the 2018-19 season.

Recovery time for this type of injury is at least six months. Evgeny wants to and thinks he can play again this March. That would be great if that is the case for a struggling Detroit Red Wings team.

As the Detroit Red Wings 2015 first round draft pick, the team was counting on him breaking through and becoming a go-to goal scorer. Something he has been working on. He could have provided a real shot in the arm. With his injury, the Wings had little choice but to give Martin Frk a roster spot.

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Sometimes injury brings out the best in players. Sometimes the player reacts as if they know they lost time and go all out. That again would be the best case for the Red Wings. If the hockey gods deem it and Evgeny Svechnikov is able to play again this season it will be interesting in the Red Wings bring him up and end the Frk experiment or send him to Grand Rapids on a rehab assignment.

Early reports were that Evgeny Svechnikov was going to make a full recovery. It would be a nice surprise if it happened this season. It would be some good news in a season that has not provided much to cheer about.

Until he is in Detroit and playing on a nightly basis, the Red Wings still really do not know precisely what kind of player Evgeny can and will be. It is possible with Detroit nowhere near playoff contention they may opt for the Grand Rapids route.

This would allow Svechnikov to both get back into the hockey flow and play in a place where he has played in the past. Then let him have an opportunity to make a case for Detroit during training camp. That could be the smart choice.