Detroit Red Wings: Filip Hronek growing into a top defender

When the Detroit Red Wings started the season with a host of young defensemen, it was exciting.  The franchise mentioned over and over the best option will play.

Part of the reason the Detroit Red Wings started with four young defenders was because of the plethora of injuries that hit the team after training camp and preseason.  The injury bug bit, and the Wings looked to the likes of Joe Hicketts who had a cup of coffee in the league prior.  They also started with Libor Sulak, Dennis Cholowski and Filip Hronek.

Hronek struggled during his first audition with the team, but he’s been exceptionally better during his second stint.  During the summer Hronek headlined the defense prospects for the Detroit Red Wings after he completed a very good season with the Grand Rapids Griffins last year.  He was a plus 24 along with scoring 11 goals and adding 28 assists totaling 39 points.

Although he struggled with defensive zone coverage and struggled with the flow of the game at the NHL level earlier in the season and was sent back to the Griffins, he worked hard on the defensive side of his game, while he remained a catalyst on the power-play.

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In 28 contests with the Griffins this season he buried 7 goals and added 16 helpers to total 23 points.  It was evident he needed to round out the defensive side of his game, but at this point, it’s clear he belongs in the NHL.

Something else to mention is the fact that Filip Hronek admits he’s been a slow starter to the season.  In the past he’s cited for whatever reason it takes him a few weeks to find his game, gain confidence and play the way he is now. The problem is the NHL isn’t the league to go through the motions and hope you can find your game on the fly.  You might not be around long enough to find it, like the first time he was recalled.

Lately, we’ve been able to get a look at the “good” Hronek is capable of producing.  Over the last two games, he’s been the Detroit Red Wings best defender.  Not that, that is something to write home about, but it’s still impressive for a first-year defender.  A bonus is his willingness to throw his weight around.  He doesn’t play a finesse style that many offensive minded defenders are so eager to adopt.

When you look at his body of work over the last five games, it gives us hope he will become a top-two defenseman for the long haul.  He’s absolutely showing flashes, over his last five contests he’s averaged 23:93 TOI.  Against the Avs, Hronek played a whopping 27:07 and against the daunting Lightning, he played 25:08.

It seems head coach Jeff Blashill is putting the kid to the test and thus far he’s delivered.  Although he isn’t lighting up the scoreboard, he’s effective running the first power-play unit and over the course of the five games, he’s only a minus -1 to go with his 2 points. Keep in mind the Wings have been outscored 19 to 10 over those five games and Hronek is only a minus -1.

Hronek will be an immense part of the rebirth of the Detroit Red Wings defense corps.  He’s played well paired with Danny DeKeyser of late and that bodes well for the franchise.  With others like Cholwoski, Lindstrom, and McIssac amongst others on their way, Filip Hronek could be the top defenceman on the franchise in a year or two. In 33 games this season with the Wings he’s recorded 3 goals and 13 assists on the season.  Also, his CF% is impressive at 53.5% in a struggling Detroit market.