Even without Detroit Red Wings hockey, there’s still plenty to discuss as the NHL season is on pause. In this version of the Red Wings Roundtable, we look at the likelihood of a remote Jacob Chychrun trade, a critical look at Filip Zadina, and our most anticipated players in the World Junior Championships.
Sending season’s greetings and all the best to our readers–thank you for taking time out to read. Onto the questions:
Question 1: There’s been buzz around Jacob Chychrun, and the Coyotes having interest in moving him. Do you buy it? And if so, should Stevie make a move?
Chris Giles: The only way the Coyotes move Chychrun is if they can win the deal in a landslide. The team is terrible and Chychrun is playing between 18-26 minutes a night. The Coyotes would want Detroit’s 1st round pick in 2022, plus either Edvinsson or Johansson in any deal. I don’t think Stevie would make this deal. Chychrun is a league worst -29 on a bad team.
The next closest Ottawa player is Nick Paul at -16. In the long run, Chuchrun doesn’t make Detroit a better hockey club. The Red Wings are loaded on LD with Edvinsson, Johansson, Sebrango, McIsaac, and Viro. They are going to need to clear some of these players out but, not at the expense of adding a player who has never played more than 68 games in a season, making $4.6M a year for the remainder of this year and three more years.
Alex Faber: I’m not sure if the Coyote fans can stomach losing another young building block of the future. But considering the front office, it wouldn’t shock me if the reports are true and Arizona is shopping the 23-year-old defenseman. They are quite obviously in full tank mode, and the future looks pretty grim – it may not just be about the front office, Chychrun might also want out.
If the reports are true, Yzerman should absolutely make a call. The left side of the defense is not great this season, and although there is talent coming up the pipeline, a player like Chychrun instantly makes it better. Chychrun fits the Red Wings timeline and fills an immediate position of need. Even if he doesn’t finalize a deal, Stevie should certainly inquire.
Nate Brown: So I actually brought this up on my last appearance on the Hockey Writers’ Grind Line and maybe some of it was just to rile my brother up a bit. All joking aside, if there is any semblance of truth to the rumors, you have to believe Yzerman would inquire. On the show, I likened it to getting a Lamborghini because I just don’t see it happening. The cost would be too great, especially since Chychrun would be at a very reasonable $4.6M for another three seasons.
I disagree with Chris in that he would be a fantastic addition and him on a pairing with Moritz Seider is something to salivate over. I also think the Chychrun Detroit would acquire would be the one who put up the numbers last season. But I absolutely agree with him that the cost would be a big ask and they’re just not there yet for that type of price.
2. Could this little break just what Filip Zadina needs?
Chris: Filip Zadina, in my estimation is proving that he was overrated coming out of junior. In 2017-18, Zadina played in the high scoring QMHJL where he scored 44 goals in 57 games during his draft year. That same year, Zadina scored seven goals in seven games while playing for Czechia in the WJC-20 tournament.
Something has happened to Zadina’s offense since that season. Moving forward, I think what we are going to see is a player who plays both end of the ice and scores 10-15 goals a season at the NHL level. If that is good enough for Steve Yzerman, the Zadina will remain in the Red Wings organization. If more offense is expected out of him, and he doesn’t produce, Yzerman will likely ship him out of Motown before the start of next season.
Alex: I’m not really sure if the break will affect Zadina’s game, but at this point, I’m willing to try anything. The way he’s been playing, he seems destined for a flurry of goals. If he comes out of the break and starts filling the net, I’m not so sure that the break should be credited for the change – at this point, it would just be a statistical regression to the mean. I mean, Zadina can’t shoot under six percent for the rest of the season – right?
Nate: I’ve written extensively on him–be it stand alone articles or eight observations. I think he’s overthinking it at this point, but I also agree with Chris’s assessment that something has happened to his offense since then. It’s how the new regime views him.
Ken Holland drafted him to score goals. Yzerman and Blashill especially expect him to be that 200 foot player. He’s developed into more of a playmaker and less of a sniper. Does this change anything? I mean, winning hockey is winning hockey and there’s scores of stories of players re-inventing themselves. I do think Zadina is one of Yzerman’s best bargaining chips so if you go back to the previous question, if there’s ever a candidate to be shipped out with value to bring back value it’s Zadina.
I still think he’s going to develop into a fine player. Just maybe not the torrid goal scorer we all expected.
3. Who are you most excited to watch at the World Juniors?
Chris: I am most excited to watch Sebastian Cossa be the #1 goaltender for Canada. Since he plays in the WHL, many fans don’t get a chance to see a lot of Cossa. This is the first time he will be playing on the big stage and he will be playing in his home province of Alberta in front of his junior fans from Edmonton.
Alex: I feel like this is the most basic answer, but I’m just hyped to see Sebastian Cossa in a bigger role. At this point, we know what he can do in the WHL. He currently has a save percentage of .924 with the Oil Kings, with two shutouts on the season.
In the crease for Team Canada, the expectations are going to be a lot higher for Cossa. He’ll also be facing some of the best young players in the world. If he looks just as good in the WJC as he does in the WHL, go ahead and start the hype train.
Nate: Cossa is certainly someone to watch, but I’m going the route of Donovan Sebrango and Simon Edvinsson. Edvinsson has a real chance to show how he’s another steal for Yzerman, while Sebrango has just been a solid hockey player at every level since he’s been drafted (and even before). To see him have a great WJC would be just another sign that this kid might have a solid role in Detroit for years to come.