It appears as though Justin Abdelkader is all but done for the season. The Detroit Red Wings associate captain had played in every game this season before being absent on Saturday afternoon against the Islanders.
Justin Abdelkader hasn’t measured up to expectations this season with the Detroit Red Wings. The veteran winger looks like he will be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a hairline fracture in his leg after blocking a shot in the game at home Thursday night against the Lightning.
He’s under contract making 4.25 million dollars per season until 2023/24. In 71 games this season he’s accomplished a total of 6 goals and 19 total points. He’s a minus -14 while playing 15:24 TOI per game this season. His CF% is atrocious at 46%.
Understanding that the Detroit Red Wings are anything but an offensive juggernaut and offensive production is hard to come by; you’d think Abdelkader would have been able to generate a bit more offense this season. He’s played way too many games alongside Dylan Larkin on the top-line. He shouldn’t be playing on any top line in the NHL these days; he shouldn’t be playing on an NHL power-play unit.
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It seems the best days of his career are in the rearview mirror. He has five years remaining on his deal, he’s 32 years old and has failed to produce anything near the level he once did while playing on a line with Pavel Datsyuk. It seems head coach Jeff Blashill while looking for line combinations throughout the season thought Abdelkader could be productive as he once was earlier in his career playing with better players.
He wasn’t able to turn back the clock. In fact, Tyler Bertuzzi has been spectacular this season being that player Abdelkader once was. Bertuzzi brings an edge along with playing the “pest” role into fruition. He’s an agitator who can also chip in on the scoreboard similar to how a young Abdelkader once played. Justin is better suited for the fourth line at this point in his career. The problem is he seems reluctant to bang the body.
I feel if he decided to go out and become a bit more physical his value on the ice would increase.I feel he plays too many minutes a night. The is no way within the current state of the Detroit Red Wings he should be playing more than Michael Rasmussen or Filip Zadina (when he was here). Even Thomas Vanek brings more upside to the lineup; I understand Abdelkader is a complimentary player who’s a good penalty killer. The silver lining in all of this is for players like Hirose and Kuffner that will have an opportunity to showcase their skills the rest of the season.
Abdelkader is a leader, or he wouldn’t wear an “A,” but at 4.25 million per season for five more years you need to be more than a role player. He also owns one of Ken Holland‘s famous no-trade clauses which means the team is forced to protect him throughout the Seattle expansion draft.
You are probably thinking what I am, Seattle isn’t selecting Abdelkader anyway, and you are correct, but that means they could have an opportunity to choose a younger, maybe more valuable asset.