Detroit Red Wings
Zadina Possibly a Week From Returning to Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina said Friday he is maybe “a week or so” away from being ready to rejoin the team.
He hasn’t played since Nov. 5 when he broke a bone in his leg blocking a shot against the New York Islanders. It had to be surgically repaired.
“We’ll see how it comes (along),” Zadina said. “I just want to come back and be 100% ready. I don’t want to be 85% ready and then just be on the ice. I want to to be ready and can give the team 100%. That’s my goal. If I get there in a week, or 10 days, or two weeks, I’m trying my best to get there as soon as possible. I just want to come back and be ready 100 percent.”
It’s not a conditioning issue.
“It’s a matter of the spot where I had the surgery, where I had the broken bone,” Zadina said. “The conditioning is fine. I’m already there. Obviously it’s tough. It’s probably not the same like I was in the summer. The biggest concern right now is the leg, where I had the injury.”
Season Re-Start
Zadina only played nine games this season before. He didn’t have a point in those games. When he returns to the Detroit lineup, it will be like starting over.
“When I come back I won’t be thinking about what happened before, how many games I played,” Zadina said. “Basically I want to take it as a preseason game. That’s my fresh start. The first game of the season will be for me the
game when I come back. That’s probably the focus for the future.”
With Robby Fabbri, Jakub Vrana and Zadina all coming back soon, the Red Wings have some difficult roster and lineup decisions to make. Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Soderblom are the only forwards who can be sent to the minors without being put on waivers.
Berggren boast five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 21 games. He has demonstrated his ability to be a 20-goal scorer and an offensive catalyst. Veleno has been a dependable competitor as a bottom six forward. He has five points in five games. Soderblom also boasts five points in his past five games.
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Oh ya, DRW! Send Veleno, Soderblom or Berggren down to GRG – while you have dregs like Erne and Zadina on the roster! That makes NO sense!!! Zadina has no future. He has been given every chance in multiple situations – and is still shooting blanks. SY – it’s time to make trades. I believe Suter must go – so get a decent draft choice or a RD prospect for him. Zadina – trade for another ‘dud’ and hope for a ‘Fabbri’ miracle!
HEY! I just read that Lafrienere May be on the block. Com’on Stevie – get that #1 pick back that was absolutely ‘stolen’ in that draft. How about Zadina and Suter to NY to get him?!?
There is zero chance that Suter and Zadina would be enough in that trade. Laf is a #1 overall pick. Gonna take a helluva lot more just to get Drury to listen
I have no problem with Yzerman sending Veleno, Berggren and Soderblom to Grand Rapids. The Griffins are floundering and those guys are currently all bottom six, borderline NHL players. I expect Yzerman to move a couple of players at the trade deadline, but until then the waiver exempt guys need to be sent down.
You forgot that Raymond is eligible for waivers (age 20, four years from contract, less than 160 games played). He’s getting beat in physical battles, and not going to the dirty areas of the ice. He’s the first one I’d send down to GR, to remind him how hard it is to earn quality NHL minutes.
Expect a -by any means possible- multi-player shuffle while the returning guys like Zedina get a chance to reclaim and boost their value. But anytime if the team can be improved any but the untouchables can go.
Who is on the untouchables list and would they send an untouchable to GR in order to hold onto ‘touchables” players ? Expect SY to hang onto all until the trade market heats up.