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Zadina Among Cuts

September 30, 2018, 5:50 PM ET [11 Comments]
Bob Duff
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Detroit Red Wings trimmed their roster to 31 players on Sunday as the NHL-mandated 5 p.m. EST Tuesday deadline to be down to the 23-player roster. To no one’s surprise, forward Filip Zadina, 18, the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL entry draft, was assigned to AHL Grand Rapids after a lukewarm preseason performance that clearly indicated he wasn’t NHL-ready.

“I think he understands we’re doing everything we can to put him in the best position to ultimately become a great player here,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill told Mlive.com. “He didn’t play so well that he was better than other guys by any stretch, but he showed signs of becoming a really good player.

“If you compare his camp, (Dylan) Larkin was a year older, but Larkin’s first camp he demanded he was on the team. With Zadina, it was more signs that looks like he’s going to be a good player. So let’s go down. It’s a hard league the American League - that’s one thing we cautioned him on, don’t think it’s going to be easy, it’s really hard - but let’s go down and figure out how much space you have and gain that confidence. Let’s get adjusted to it and hopefully, he fills it up down there and he’s demanding that he gets called back up.”

They’re Out
Also assigned to AHL Grand Rapids were forwards David Pope, Givani Smith, and Dominic Turgeon, defenseman Vili Saarijarvi and goaltender Harri Sateri. Additionally, the Red Wings released left wing Jussi Jokinen from his professional tryout.

Blashill admitted that breaking the news to a player that they didn’t make the grade is a tough but necessary part of his job description.

“I don’t think you’re human if you don’t have a great respect for the work that was put in by each player to try to be ready and try to win a job, especially for guys that felt like they were in good position to win jobs and then they might hear disappointing news,” Blashill said. “But it’s the reality of sports and it’s the reality of our job.

“I have to have tough conversations basically every day. It’s something that early in your coaching career you learn to do and you have to have them, you try to be as honest as possible and you move forward and that’s what we’ll do today.”

They’re In
Forward Michael Rasmussen and defenseman Dennis Cholowski were given the good news that they’d made the team.

“I didn’t really focus on the big picture too much,” Rasmussen said. “I just tried to play my game and help the team every night, so I think I did a pretty good of that. The work is just starting, so I’ve got to keep going.”

Showing just one game of pro experience on his resume, it was anticipated that Cholowski would start the season in Grand Rapids , but he forced the Wings to keep him by turning in a solid preseason.

“I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing, that’s been my attitude the whole time,” Cholowski said. “Keep playing the way I’ve been playing and I’ll be fine.”

Injury Updates

Sick bay is becoming a crowded place in Detroit. Niklas Kronwall became the fourth Wings defenseman to join the walking wounded with an undisclosed injury

“He’s got a tweak,” was all Blashill would say.

Mike Green (viral infection of liver), Trevor Daley and Jonathan Ericsson (lower-body injuries) are also out and Ericsson has suffered a setback in his recovery.

“There hasn’t been much improvement the last 10 days or whatever it is,” Ericsson said. “Today felt like it was a step back, too. Not exactly sure why but it’s frustrating.

“I’ve seen doctors. I don’t know, it’s just going to take time. They say it’s going to take time. It’s going to be a long process. I was hoping to have more progress by now.”

Added to the ranks of the ailing was forward Evgeni Svechnikov, also with an undisclosed injury.

“Right now he’s out,” Blashill said. “He got hurt last night, so as we get closer to Thursday, we’ll see where his health is and we’ll make that decision (on whether Svechnikov goes on the injured list).”

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