Detroit Red Wings: Filip Zadina returns to Grand Rapids for playoff push

During his nine-game regular season audition with the Detroit Red Wings, Filip Zadina seemed to gain confidence as the games proceeded.

Filip Zadina was recalled to have a cup of coffee with the Detroit Red Wings. It was the Evgeny Svechnikov treatment from last season. The Wings had the opportunity to call up Zadina allowing him to have some time in the bigs playing against NHL competition.

Detroit was able to allow Zadina to play nine games without burning a year of his Entry Level Contract. This is key because now the Wings are not obligated to protect him in the NHL expansion draft. I mean it isn’t as though the Detroit Red Wings have so many to preserve but not being forced to use a spot with Zadina will allow the team to protect another young player or all of the veterans that have no trade/movement clauses teams are forced to protect.

Although Zadina didn’t precisely dominate AHL competition, he really made strides throughout the season with the Griffins. It’s been highly documented here along with many other media and blog outlets that Zadina was not ready for the NHL at the start of the season. I expected Zadina to step into the Detroit Red Wings lineup game one of the seasons’ and be a difference maker.

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That was my thought on draft day, but I was clearly wrong. I don’t know if it were arrogance or confidence when Zadina mentioned he would make the Montreal Canadiens pay for passing on him by “filling their net” but he’s yet to produce at that level but remember, he’s only 19. A comment like that is poster board material for other teams, but I don’t really have a major problem with it but I’d personally a player put or shut-up.

I think a player needs to have confidence in himself, but a comment like that may have had Zadina gripping the stick a little tighter during the preseason. After a slow preseason, slow start to the season with the Griffins, he’s started to transform into a regular scoring threat.

In a recent article written by Peter J Wallner of Mlive.com Zadina talks about what he needs to bring to the Griffins in his return;

"“Just coming back and playing the way I did before I left,” Zadina said when asked about the adjustment. “Probably the same game, same speed as when I left. So, it will probably be a little bit better because I played in Detroit and now, I guess and I hope, easier.”As for feedback he received from the Detroit brass on his time with the Red Wings, Zadina said it was positive.“Yeah, they were talking to me. They said I did a good job and I played well but I have to keep going here and help the team to win and help the team to make a long run in the playoffs.”"

Through his nine-game audition with the Wings, he played as a top-nine forward and much of the time as a top-six forward. He was given the opportunity to skate with the top power-play unit, that is where he produced his first and to this point lone NHL goal. He blasted a one-timer from the right circle, it was Kucherov/Stamkos/Ovechkin like. Hopefully, over the next year or two, we will be able to call it Filip Zadina’s office.

Next. Filip Hronek growing into a top defender. dark

To go with his lone goal, he added a pair of assists in nine games. This season with the Griffins he’s played 46 games, scored 15 goals added 16 assists totaling 31 points. He along with Chris Terry, Matt Puempel, Dennis Cholowski, and Martin Frk are expected to have significant roles with the Grand Rapids Griffins during their playoff push with the hopes of winning another Calder Cup. The Griffins sit three points behind Chicago for the top spot in the Central Divison and the Western Conference.

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