Detroit Red Wings: Filip Zadina looking to build on a solid first-game back

Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina returned to the ice on Thursday night, helping the Red Wings capture a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. It turned out to be a heck of a first game back for the young winger, who ended up tallying the eventual game-winner.

The 23-year-old forward has been battling injuries, and this was his first game back since the first week of November. Zadina has only logged ten games in 2022-23, registering his first point with his goal last night for the Detroit Red Wings offense.

It was a solid first game back for the Red Wings forward, who looked good with the Red Wings. He may have missed a plethora of time, but his level of play was still good for someone who had been working back from an injury.

He was often involved in the offensive zone; his passing and play-making abilities showed, and it felt like he was finding ways to get involved. It was a solid performance all-around for his first game back, and he’s seemingly going to get the opportunity to keep proving himself.

Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina gets back on track in return.

Before the All-Star Break and even during, there was more talk of a Zadina return, and he had been able to get some work in with Grand Rapids to keep pushing himself in the right direction. Ultimately, the former sixth-overall draft pick has made his return.

He was in the bottom six playing alongside Pius Suter and Oskar Sundqvist. While Suter is someone whose offense has taken a step in the wrong direction in 2022-23, Zadina seemed to slot into the winger role on that line with Sundqvist quite well.

As his return continues and he starts to settle in, he will be looking to tap into that offense and prove he belongs. Zadina has been someone who’s just really performed at an underwhelming pace during the 2022-23 season.

The winger has never seemed to find the offense and sniper-like traits that he was supposed to develop to show. But as the Red Wings continue with the second half with Zadina back in a winged-wheel uniform, he will try and tap into that offense and try to be a play-maker in the bottom six and earn some extra minutes.

His first game back was a success, and it was a game where even though the Red Wings won, the offense lacked a good execution. There were lots of missed passes, telegraphed passes, and whiffs on passes/shots.

Even though Zadina looked the part in his own game, he needs to continue this moving forward to prove to Lalonde that he can stick around and be an impactful player with the Red Wings.