Blashill comments on where Zadina will play this season

The biggest question among every single Red Wings fan is where will rising superstar Filip Zadina play for the 2018-19 season. Head Coach Jeff Blashill had this to say on the matter.

From Max Bultman of the Athletic, Blashill had some very interesting things to say on where the Czech forward will play this upcoming season.

It is generally good to hear that Blashill doesn’t want to turn this offensive threat into a boring two-way winger that can never find the net ever again. Remember that year Ovechkin was told to “backcheck”?

The comments on his current defensive game are intriguing since it doesn’t really show up in any of the numbers from this preseason. It is in fact, preseason after all, so this might not matter, but when Zadina was on the ice the Red Wings got heavily outshot and out-chanced.

In the 52 minutes and 34 seconds that Zadina has so far been on the ice in preseason games, the Red Wings had only 38% of the scoring opportunities compared to the opposition. This could simply be just the other team playing their stars – Toews and Kane played both preseason games against the Red Wings – or it can be just how Zadina has an effect on this team.

As well, Blashill mentions that the organization as a whole wants him to be that offensive star as quickly as they can. That might mean that they are leaning more into sending Zadina down to the Griffins to start out the year.

Doing this, Zadina wouldn’t feel surprised by the speed and pace of NHL hockey, but he can ease his way into the style of professional hockey. If everything goes as predicted, Zadina can break out and be that “go-to” guy for the Griffins’ start of the season. Getting the confidence that he will need when eventually making his way into the NHL – from being the “star” that Blashill talks about in the AHL.

If Zadina makes his NHL debut on opening night, middle of the season, or even in a year’s time, it will be because this management thinks he is ready to handle the pressure of being an offense-first winger in the NHL.