Detroit Red Wings

Status Of Red Wings Zadina ‘Not Good’ After Blocking Shot

Zadina suffers lower body injury blocking shot

Published

1 year ago

November 5, 2022

Bob Duff

Filip Zadina is our after taking a shot off the leg in Saturday's win over the New York Islanders.

Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina finally did something to get noticed on the ice and it was not good.

Not good for him, or for the Red Wings. They’re down yet another forward after Zadina was injured blocking a Ryan Pulock point shot in Saturday’s 3-0 Red Wings victory over the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena.

As he left the ice heading to the Detroit dressing room, Zadina was unable to put any weight on his right leg.

Filip Zadina (lower body) is expected to be out for a period of time. More to come tomorrow, per Lalonde.

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 5, 2022

“Lower body, obviously and not good,” was Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde’s assessment of Zadina’s injury. “I don’t think we’re gonna see him for awhile.

“I haven’t got the complete word but I got the not good. We’ll know more tomorrow.”

Zadina Struggling to Find Offense

Selected sixth overall in the 2018 NHL entry draft, Zadina’s battle to establish a presence as a consistent offensive producer has proven to be an ongoing storyline during his NHL career. He began the 2022-23 NHL season residing in the press box as an extra forward.

Injuries to others ended up opening a path back into the Detroit lineup for him. However, through nine games Zadina is without a point and showing a minus-3 rating.

“I played hard and done some good things,” Zadina said earlier this season. “That’s how I feel.”

Czarnik Next Man Up For Red Wings

The Red Wings were making the decision late Friday to recall Austin Czarnik from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins for this weekend to give them an extra body. He’ll get his first crack at playing on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

“We’re literally down to the minimum bodies and we did have a couple – obviously Larks (captain Dylan Larkin) had a maintenance day (on Friday),” Lalonde said. “We’re nicked up a little bit.

“We need an extra body. And this is why you need an extra body. Here we are. He’ll be in tomorrow.”

UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today recalled center Austin Czarnik from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. pic.twitter.com/Svs36T2nAN

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 5, 2022

Zadina is joining Tyler Bertuzzi (upper body), Robby Fabbri (knee surgery), and Oskar Sundqvist (upper body) among Detroit frwards wil are out of the lineup.

I know it sounds crazy but we have some experience with having five or six guys out up front,” Lalonde said. “We have some confidence with it. Next guy up.

“Austin Czarnik flew in last night and we’re excited about getting him in tomorrow.”

Czarnik’s claim to fame in these parts is that he scored the first goal in an NHL preseason game at Little Caesars Arena. He was playing for the Boston Bruins at the time.