Red Wings Future Stars: The Evgeny Svechnikov Dilemma

The Svechnikov name has been on the hockey world’s tongue lately, but it has not been in conjunction with the Detroit Red Wings. Unlike his younger brother, Evgeny Svechnikov did not go second overall in the NHL Entry Draft. He went 19th overall in 2015. And unlike his younger brother, Evgeny Svechnikov is still not a guaranteed NHL player, at least not in Detroit. Ken Holland’s free agency moves all but guaranteed that.

Of course, everyone is insisting that the roster is wide open. The best players in training camp will be on the opening night roster. With new and old players in the mix, I’m still not sure Svechnikov makes that cut.

Svech was a highly touted prospect who lit up the QMJHL with goals as a member of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. His first season in Grand Rapids, he put up 20 goals and 51 points in 74 games. He was playing well in the AHL. Well enough to earn himself a two game call-up to play in Detroit in the 2016-17 season.

And he stood out in those games, I thought. He didn’t record any points, but he did score the shootout winner in his debut, a 5-4 win over the Ottawa Senators. The Wings returned him to Grand Rapids where he capped off his season with a Calder Cup.

It wasn’t a bad start to the youngster’s career. He was on the right trajectory and both he and the Red Wings believed he would be on the opening roster in October of 2017.

Then the hockey Gods intervened. Svechnikov tweaked his neck during training camp and had to sit out the season opener. When he was fully healed and ready to play, he was sent to Grand Rapids, not only to condition himself for the year, but because the Wings’ season was already underway with a full roster that was building chemistry.

So Svech suited up for the Griffins, but his disappointment was evident as he struggled through the first few games. Seven games in, with only a single goal to show for his season thus far, Svechnikov found himself watching from the press box as a healthy scratch. “I think right now, he’s just putting too much pressure on himself,” coach Todd Nelson told WingsNation at the time. “It’s just a reset button for him.”

That reset button didn’t take effect until January as Svechnikov struggled through the first half of the season, scoring only twice through 27 games. It stemmed from a lack of confidence and being far too hard on himself. Once January hit, though, he started to find his groove and it earned him a call-up to Detroit post-trade deadline.

Over the course of the 14 games that he played with the Wings at the end of the season, Svechnikov’s ice time gradually increased from five minutes to ten minutes a night. He scored two goals and added two assists, with one multi-point game, before being shipped back to Grand Rapids for their playoff run.

It was a performance worthy of a bottom-6 winger, but far from the kind of top line talent fans wanted to see out of the former first round pick. His offense was lackluster and he was invisible in his own end. Perhaps these were just the results of a young kid struggling through his season, looking for the confidence and swagger that he’s had in the past.

All signs pointed to Svechnikov getting another chance this year, with the roster clearing up a bit, yet some luck at the draft and a busy July 1st may have put a damper on that. With Filip Zadina now in the mix, Michael Rasmussen all but a lock and the inclusion of Thomas Vanek, a regular roster spot is out of sight even for Martin Frk, who played regularly all of last season.

So where does that leave Svechnikov? At 21-years-old, he’s yet to hit his ceiling. He’s a decent skater with a really good shot. Given the room, he can find even the smallest opening in the net. He’s also an incredibly hard worker who’s willing to grind it out against the boards. At this moment, he’s bottom-6 talent in the NHL, but he could work his way up to a second line winger assignment.

The bigger question is whether that assignment is with the Wings or not. Svechnikov will have to outwork not just his peers, but his seniors if he wants a spot on the opening night roster. Otherwise, I see him starting back in Grand Rapids, staying at the top of the depth chart so that he’s the first phone call when an injury occurs in Detroit.

There’s also the potential of a trade. The Wings are very tight on roster spots, especially up front, and a move is starting to feel imminent. Andreas Athanasiou’s name has been thrown around lately and Gustav Nyquist was mentioned a few times at the trade deadline. Svechnikov could easily be packaged up in a trade to bring in some help on the blueline.

The Wings have been connected to Justin Faulk and Carolina feels like a natural landing spot for Evgeny as it would unite him with his younger brother. Winnipeg is another speedy team up front that has room to add forward depth.

I have no doubt that Svechnikov can and will play in the NHL, but it’s hard to see where he fits into this Detroit roster. He’s still got a ton of potential, but every move this team makes to improve themselves seems to move against Svechnikov.

Given the chance, Evgeny could make the Svechnikov name even more relevant in the hockey world. Maybe it’ll even be in the same jersey as his brother. It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get to that point, but work is never something that Svech has shied away from. He so desperately wants it and I believe he’ll one day achieve it.