Detroit Red Wings: Filip Hronek doing better with a stronger supporting cast

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Red Wings are a revamped team in 2022-23. Things look much brighter than they did during the 2021-22 season. The team seems to be figuring things out and finding ways to produce offense even better than last season.

For Filip Hronek, this seems to be the case as well. The Detroit Red Wings should be thrilled with how well Hronek has played. The offense has improved, and he’s performing at nearly a point-per-game clip. The Red Wings have to be thrilled.

The Red Wings should be happy about how things have gone for him. While Olli Maatta has missed the past few games due to injury, he has been the primary partner for Hronek on the blue line.

It’s formed a great defense pair that has anchored the team’s second pairing. Things have not been as well-oiled between Moritz Seider and Ben Chiarot as many were hoping, so Hronek’s pair has nearly become the top option.

Detroit Red Wings’ Filip Hronek continues to excel in 2022-23.

Hronek had a career-best 38 points last season with five goals and 33 assists over 78 games played. It was a great season, and he was able to tap into the offense, really settling in as that offensive-minded defender.

It remains the case in 2022-23 as Hronek continues to produce. He’s on pace for over 70 points, nearly double his totals from last year. With a better supporting cast around him on a better Red Wings team, Hronek has been able to take his game up a notch further.

As the season keeps chugging along, Hronek has been able to log 26 games, scoring six goals and adding 18 points for 24 total points on the campaign. The impressive part has been Hronek’s ability to make things happen in the offensive zone from the blue line.

Between getting pucks on net and finding the open man, Hronek has settled into his role with the revamped Red Wings quite nicely. On top of that, he’s been anchoring the top power-play unit, doing exactly what the Red Wings needed.

If you watch the Red Wings’ top unit when they set up, Hronek roams the top of the zone and is the distributor at times. He controls the puck and allows David Perron and Dominik Kubalík to get open on the outside before dumping it off and getting in position to receive a return feed.

Hronek has been solid at puck distribution, and not just at the power-play. Hronek’s assists show how well he’s really been performing. As the season continues, the Red Wings should be hoping that Hronek continues at this pace which has been exceptional so far.